GB2290700A

GB2290700A - Device for picking up objects

Info

Publication number: GB2290700A
Application number: GB9513029A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Cato Godfrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-29
Filing date: 1995-06-27
Publication date: 1996-01-10
Also published as: GB9513029D0; GB9413039D0

Abstract

A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects e.g. litter, has a shaft (1) with a trigger (3) positioned close to a handle (2). Jaws (4,5) are hinged and secured to the opposite end of the shaft by a swivel (6) to allow the jaws to move through at least 90 degrees. The trigger (3) opens the jaws by means of an attachment (9) against the tension of a spring (10). There is a means of releasably securing a disposable liner (11) to the assembly. A protective stand-off peg (7) is positioned on the end of a jaw. The device may be used as a walking stick. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR PICKING UP OBJECTS This invention relates to devices for picking up objects. More particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to devices for remotely picking up objects such as dog faeces.

Dog faeces can pose a health hazard to humans, and dog owners are increasingly under legal obligations to remove their pets' faeces from pavements and play areas. This is usually carried out by using a scoop on the end of a stick or a small shovel, or by picking up the faeces using a plastic bag as a glove.

Such methods are undignified and generally require both hands to effect whilst still needing to keep control of the dog.

According to the invention there is provided a device for remotely picking up faeces comprising a shaft with a handle, a pair of jaws hinged on one side forming a grab and these jaws are attached to the shaft by a swivel device, a means of operating the jaws by a trigger and a means of keeping the jaws closed while not in operation.

Preferably there is also a means of attaching a disposable liner to the inside of the jaws in such a manner that the liner will be released with the faeces on disposal.

The invention also provides a device for picking up objects, the device comprising: a shaft; an elongate grab mechanism at one end of the shaft, the grab mechanism being movable between a stowed orientation substantially parallel to the shaft and an active orientation substantially perpendicular to the shaft; and an operating control, disposed along the shaft from said one end of the shaft, linked to the grab mechanism so that movement of the operating control causes opening and closing of the grab mechanism.

The invention addresses the problems described above by providing a device which allows objects such as dog faeces to be picked up remotely. A grab mechanism (which may be lined with a disposable liner) is at one end of a shaft, and an operating control (such as a trigger mechanism) is at or towards the other end of the shaft, so that the user does not have to get too close to the object to be picked up. By allowing the grab mechanism to move between a stowed and an active orientation, the device can double as a walking stick when not in use for picking up objects.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a device for picking up objects in perspective view with jaws opened ready to pick up, for example, faeces (disposable liner not shown); Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the device in walking stick mode; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the device with the jaws swivelled at right angles to the shaft; and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the device releasing the hygienic disposable liner and contents at a disposal point.

Referring now to Figure 1, the device comprises a shaft 1, with a handle 2 at one end and an elongate grab mechanism comprising a pair of hinged jaws 4, 5 at the other end. The jaws are biased towards a closed position by a spring 10 or other similar bias means.

The jaws are able to pivot about a hinge 6, between an active position as shown in Figure 1, where the jaws are substantially perpendicular to the shaft 1, and a stowed position (as shown in Figure 2 and also referred to as "walking stick mode"), where the jaws are substantially parallel to the shaft 1. In the active position, the jaws may be used to pick up objects (such as faeces or litter) from the floor, whereas when the jaws are in the stowed position the device may be carried by the user as a walking stick. To assist in this latter use as a walking stick, and to avoid damage to the jaws, a stand-off peg 7 is provided to contact the floor. The movement between the stowed and active positions, in this embodiment, involves swivelling the jaws through at least 90 degrees. However, different angles of swing could be used.

The movement between the stowed position and the active position is illustrated by a dotted arrow in Figure 3. A magnetic clip or similar catch 22 is provided to releasably hold the jaws in the stowed position.

A trigger 3 is provided close to the handle 2, preferably within finger reach of the handle (say, about 5 centimetres), so that the trigger can be operated by one finger while the user still holds the handle with the rest of that hand. The trigger is linked by a cable 9 within the shaft 1 to one of the jaws 4, so that operation of the trigger (i.e. pulling on the trigger) by the user pulls the jaws 4, 5 apart against the bias spring 10. When the trigger is released, the jaws 4, 5 are urged together again by the spring 10.

Clips 20 are provided on the outside of the jaws to retain a paper or plastics liner 11 (Figure 4). The liner may simply be a rectangular sheet of the paper or plastics material with opposite edges folded back around the jaws 4, 5 and held in place by the clips 20. This fold-back arrangement also protects the edges of the jaws 4, 5 from contact with the object to be picked up. The liner could fall out (as shown in Figure 4) when the contents of the jaws are emptied, or it could be released from the clips 20 manually.

In order to pick up faeces or other objects such as litter, the jaws 4, 5 are swivelled to the active position, and the trigger squeezed. This opens the jaws against the bias spring 10. If a liner 11 has not already been positioned inside the jaws 4, 5, this can be done at this stage.

The open jaws are then positioned over the object to be picked up and the jaws closed around the object by slowly releasing the trigger. The jaw assembly is then swivelled back to the stowed position and the retrieved object carried unobtrusively to disposal. When a suitable disposal point is reached (such as a bin 12), the jaws are opened and the disposable liner and contents are jettisoned into the bin.

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

Claims

1. A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects comprising a shaft with a handle at one end of the shaft and hinged jaws articulated to the other end of the shaft allowing the jaws assembly to swivel through at least 90 degrees, a means of remotely operating the jaws and a means of releasably attaching a disposable liner to the assembly.

2. A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects as claimed in claim 1, wherein a trigger is provided within finger reach of the handle.

3. A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects as claimed in claim 2, wherein means of attachment is provided from the trigger to the hinged jaw.

4. A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is provided a means of keeping the jaws closed when not being operated.

5. A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is a means of attaching the jaws to the shaft.

6. A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects as claimed in claim 5, wherein a releasable catch is provided for retaining the jaws parallel with the shaft.

7. A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stand-off peg is provided on at least one end of the jaws.

8. A device for remotely picking up dog faeces and other objects substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A device for picking up objects, the device comprising: a shaft; an elongate grab mechanism at one end of the shaft, the grab mechanism being movable between a stowed orientation substantially parallel to the shaft and an active orientation substantially perpendicular to the shaft; and an operating control, disposed along the shaft from said one end of the shaft, linked to the grab mechanism so that movement of the operating control causes opening and closing of the grab mechanism.

10. A device according to claim 9, in which the grab mechanism comprises a pair of elongate hinged jaws.

11. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10, comprising resilient bias means for biassing the grab mechanism towards a closed state.

12. A device according to claim 11, in which the resilient bias means comprises a spring.

13. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, comprising a clip for releasably holding the grab mechanism in the stowed orientation.

14. A device according to claim 13, in which the clip is a magnetic clip.

15. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 14, comprising a handle disposed at said other end of the shaft.

16. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 15, in which the operating control comprises a manually operable trigger.

17. A device according to claim 16, in which the trigger is linked to the grab mechanism by a control cable.

18. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 17, comprising means for retaining a disposable liner within the grab mechanism.

19. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 18, in which the operating control is disposed at an opposite end of the shaft to said one end.