GB2290944A

GB2290944A - Poop scoop

Info

Publication number: GB2290944A
Application number: GB9413880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Francis Graham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-09
Filing date: 1994-07-09
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Also published as: GB9413880D0

Abstract

A poop scoop is described for use by the handler of an animal to prevent fouling of the ground. The poop scoop comprises an elongate handle 10 and means 16 at one end of the handle for releasably retaining a disposable bag with the mouth of the bag open and facing upwards to catch excrement before it falls to the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

PET TOILET Field of the invention The present invention relates to a toilet for preventing fouling of the ground by dogs, or other pets, when they are taken for a walk on a lead by their handlers.

Background of the invention The problem of the fouling of footpaths by dogs is one that has given rise to considerable concern, more especially in view of the serious risk of infection that it presents to young children who may come into contact with the excrement while they are playing on the ground. It is known in this context that blindness can be caused to children from Toxocara roundworm eggs that are to be found in dog faeces.

Various devices have therefore been proposed in the past to enable the handler to pick up the pet's excrement, but this is an unpleasant task for the handler and it is often not possible to leave the ground completely clean.

Summary of the invention To mitigate the foregoing disadvantages, the present invention provides a pet toilet for use by the handler of an animal to prevent fouling of the ground, comprising an elongate handle and means at one end of the handle for releasably retaining a disposable bag with the mouth of the bag open and facing upwards to catch excrement before it falls to the ground.

Unlike conventional devices for scooping excrement from the ground, the toilet of the present invention prevents the ground from the being soiled in the first instance. The ground does not need to be wiped and the task is therefore more hygienic and less unpleasant for the handler. The handler need not at any time come near to or into contact with the excrement, thereby avoiding the risk of possible infection.

In use, the device may be carried like a walking stick, making it convenient and unobtrusive. When the pet adopts a crouching position, the elongate handle is used to position the disposable bag beneath the pet to catch its excrement before it falls to the ground. Thereafter the bag can be released from the handle and disposed of in a suitable and safe manner.

It is convenient for the handle to be telescopically adjustable to enable it to be used comfortably by handlers of different height and to allow it to be collapsed for storage when not in use.

It is also desirable to provide the handle with a band or cord loop at its upper end allow it to be carried easily and to be suspended during storage.

The mouth of the bag is advantageously held open by being stretched over a frame or bag holder that is positioned at the lower end of the handle. Preferably, the disposable bag covers at the least the upper surface of the frame, to avoid excrement from coming into contact with the non-disposable part of the toilet.

For ease of use, the frame should lie in a plane making an obtuse angle with the axis of the handle. It is desirable also that the frame should be pivotable relative to the handle between this operational position and a folded position in which it lies against the lower end of the handle for ease of carrying. A stop may be used tolocate the frame in its operational position and a detent in the hinge mechanism may serve to hold it in its folded position.

Various possibilities exist for releasably retaining the disposable bag on the frame. For example, the frame may comprise concentric rings movable relative to one another and between which the mouth of the bag is clamped.

The clamping mechanism may be released remotely, if desired, by using a rod extending along or inside the handle, in a manner analogous to the squeeze handle of a mop. Such a rod may be used to pivot the clamping ring into a release position, thereby allowing the handle and the frame to be lifted off the disposable bag while the latter remains on the ground by virtue of its own weight.

Brief descriPtion of the drawing The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a side view of a pet toilet of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment The drawing shows a pet toilet that comprises a telescopically collapsible handle 10 fitted a grip 12 and a band 14 from which it can be suspended. A frame 16 into which a disposable bag may be fitted is mounted on the lower end of the handle 10. The frame 16 is connected to the elongate handle by a hinge 18 that allows the frame to pivot between an operational position, shown in solid lines, in which it makes an obtuse angle with the axis of the handle and a storage position shown in dotted lines, in which it lies parallel to the axis of the handle. The hinge 18 incorporates a stop that determines the position of the frame 16 when it is operational and detents may be formed as part of the hinge to hold the frame in the storage position and, if desired, in a position in which the frame lies at right angles to the axis of the handle.

The storage position is the most convenient one for transporting the toilet when the bag is empty. The operational position enables the handler to hold the handle comfortably while the toilet is being used by the pet. The third position is useful to allow the toilet to be carried after it has been used, for example when a pet owner needs to exercise several pets at one time.

The frame 16 is in the form of a ring with a radial projection that forms part of the hinge 18. The rim of the disposable bag is fitted from above over the frame and bag is then pushed through the centre of the frame 16 leaving only the rim of the bag folded over the frame and protecting the frame against its being soiled. To hold the bag in position, a clamping ring 20 is pivotable relative to the frame and snaps into a recess 22 formed on the underside of the frame. When the rim of the bag is sandwiched between the frame 16 and the ring 20 it is securely clamped and it cannot be readily removed without first pulling the clamping ring 20 away from its recess. To assist in this operation, a tab 24 is formed on the clamping ring 20.

To fit a bag over the frame 16 it is necessary to make a cut for accommodating the hinge 18. A serrated edge make therefore conveniently be provided on the hinge to allow the bag to be cut as it is being fitted in position.

In use, the handle 10 is used by the handler to position the disposable bag beneath the pet when it is crouching to catch the excrement before it reaches the ground. Afterwards, the clamping ring 20 is released from its recess 22 in the frame 16 by pulling on the tab 24, thereby allowing the bag to be removed from the frame. The handler need only come into contact with the outer surface of the bag and need not therefore soil his hands. The frame can then be pivoted into its storage position and device can then be carried as a walking stick.

It is possible to use a remote linkage to operate the clamping ring 20. For example, the ring may have a heel like extension protruding to the opposite side of the hinge.

Such a heel may be connected by a rod do a sliding collar or a pivoted lever mounted on the handle. By operating the sliding collar or the pivoted lever, in the same manner as sometimes used on mops, the clamping ring can be made to pivot.

The remote linkage may have three defined positions; the first corresponding to the storage position of the ring 20, the second to the operational position and the third to the position shown in solid lines in the drawing, in which the clamping ring is released from its recess in the frame. In this way, both the pivoting of the frame and the unclamping of the bag may be carried out without making contact with the frame and the disposable bag.

It will be appreciated that many further modifications may be made to the illustrated pet toilet without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pet toilet for use by the handler of an animal to prevent fouling of the ground, comprising an elongate handle and means at one end of the handle for releasably retaining a disposable bag with the mouth of the bag open and facing upwards to catch excrement before it falls to the ground.

2. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is telescopically adjustable.

3. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle has a band at its upper end.

4. A pet toilet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mouth of the bag is held open by being stretched over a frame positioned at the lower end of the handle.

5. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the disposable bag covers at the least the upper surface of the frame.

6. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the frame lies in a plane making an obtuse angle with the axis of the handle.

7. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 6,wherein the frame is pivotable relative to the handle between an operational position and a folded position in which it lies against the lower end of the handle for ease of carrying.

8. A pet toilet constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hinge comprises a stop to locate the frame in its operational position and a detent for holding the frame in the storage position.

9. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 8, wherein a further detent is provided for holding the frame in a position in which the frame lies substantially a right angles to the axis of the handle.

10. A pet toilet as claimed in any of claims 4 to 9, in which a clamping ring is pivotably mounted on the frame, which clamping ring may snap into a recess formed in the frame to clamp the rim of a disposable bag mounted in the frame.

11. A pet toilet constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A pet toilet for use by the handler of an animal to prevent fouling of the ground, comprising an elongate handle, a frame at one end of the handle for releasably retaining a disposable bag with the mouth of the bag open and facing upwards to catch excrement before it falls to the ground, and a clamping ring pivotably mounted on the underside of the frame for clamping the rim of the disposable bag against the frame, the rim of the bag being folded over the upper surface of the frame before being clamped between the clamping ring and frame.

4. A pet toilet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame lies in a plane making an obtuse angle with the axis of the handle.

5. A pet toilet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame is pivotable relative to the handle between an operational position and a folded position in which it lies against the lower end of the handle for ease of carrying.

6. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hinge comprises a stop to locate the frame in its operational position and a detent for holding the frame in the storage position.

7. A pet toilet as claimed in claim 6, wherein a further detent is provided for holding the frame in a position in which the frame lies substantially a right angles to the axis of the handle.