GB2359728A

GB2359728A - A manual collector for noxious substances

Info

Publication number: GB2359728A
Application number: GB0002720A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrea Heather Doel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-08
Filing date: 2000-02-08
Publication date: 2001-09-05
Also published as: GB0002720D0

Description

2359728 A MANUAL COLLECTOR FOR NOXIOUS SUBSTANCES This invention relates

to a collector for the manual collection of noxious substances, and in particular - but not exclusively - the collection of animal 5 faeces.

For convenience, the invention will be described exclusively with reference to the collection of animal faeces, but it will be appreciated that the invention is not to be regarded as limited to this use and may be used for the collection of many other solid or semi-solid noxious substances.

It is often desirable to collect for disposal animal faeces, especially when deposited in a public place. Often, the collection of animal faeces is required by local laws and the failure to collect them from public places is punishable by a fine. The areas where such restrictions apply are becoming more and more extensive.

It is both repulsive and unhygienic for other users of public places if animal faeces in particular are not collected more or less immediately after they have been deposited. However, the collection of fresh animal faeces is most unpleasant and this makes owners extremely reluctant to perform this task. They are consequently prepared to run the risk of public disapproval or punishment to avoid close contact therewith.

There have been many proposals for handling fresh animal faeces, to minimise the disagreeable task of collecting them. Most people use a simple plastic bag either by putting their hand in the bag and then grasping the faeces with the bag intervening and then inverting the bag over the faeces, or using a scoop to pick up the faeces and deposit them in the bag. The former collection technique is particularly offensive since the user's hand is isolated from the faeces merely by a relatively thin skin of flexible plastics which does not avoid the sensation of handling fresh, warm faeces. On the other hand, though a scoop is easy to carry until it is first used, thereafter it is contaminated with residues of the faeces, which makes it unhygienic and likely to soil other items, until it can be cleaned.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a collector which is easy to carry until required for use, which is disposable once used and which is far more pleasant to use than the known techniques used above.

Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided a collector for the manual collection of noxious substances, comprising; a bag having a pair of side faces and an open end, the bag being of a flexible material substantially impervious to the noxious substance and of a sufficiently large size to accommodate a collector's hand inserted through the open end; and a buffer sheet secured to one side face of the bag and of a size not significantly smaller than the one side face, the buffer sheet being relatively inflexible compared to the side faces of the bag; whereby a hand inserted into the bag may offer the buffer sheet to the noxious substance and then pick up the substance, whereafter the bag may be inverted over the buffer sheet and the collected substance by pulling the other side face over the one side face, buffer sheet and substance, so enclosing the substance within the inverted bag.

Preferably, the bag portion has intermediate walls connecting together the corresponding edges of the side walls, whereby the side walls of the bag may be separated by the intermediate walls moving out of the general planes of the side walls. It is more preferred that the intermediate walls are folded inwardly of the bag whereby each edge of one side wall substantially overlies the corresponding edge of the other side wall.

In order that the bag permits its inversion over the buffer sheet and collected substance, it is necessary that the bag is of a sufficient size. However, if the bag is of too large a size, the use of the collector becomes unwieldy because once the hand has been inserted into the bag, the buffer sheet will be suspended some distance beneath the hand, which makes handling the bag inconvenient. In this case, the buffer sheet would be swinging beneath the hand and not closely positioned thereunder. It is highly preferable to configure the bag such that when the hand is inserted therein, the buffer sheet is adjacent the palm of the hand and therefore may be easily manipulated thereby.

To achieve this, it is advantageous that the overlying edges of the side walls extending away from the open end of the bag are releasably joined together, the bag having sufficient volume to accommodate a collector's hand with the edges joined together, but the edges being releasable to permit inversion of the bag. Desirably, the overlying edges are releasably joined by an adhesive material or by a number of spot-welds.

In addition, or alternatively, the inner faces of the two side faces of the bag may be releasably-joined to define a hand-shaped region. Such a region would allow more accurate manipulation of the collector. As the two side faces are only releasably-joined, the inversion of the bag would still be permitted, by separation of those releasable joins.

Whilst it is necessary for the buffer sheet to be of a size not significantly smaller than the one side face, it is preferred that it is of a size greater than the one side face. It is desirable that the one side face of the bag is of a generally rectangular shape, and the buffer sheet is generally circular in shape, the one side face lying wholly within the area of the buffer sheet.

In order more conveniently to permit the hand of the user to encompass the animal faeces to be collected without significant inconvenience or without an unpleasant encounter therewith, it is advantageous that regions of the buffer sheet extending. beyond the edges of the side walls are arranged to hinge downwardly out of the plane of the one side sheet. This hinging of regions of the buffer sheet aids collection of animal faeces because when a central part of the buffer sheet is placed above and lowered on to an animal faeces the hinging side regions hang down and by that action start to encompass the faeces. What is more, now the hand contained within the bag can more easily effect the encompassing of the faeces by drawing the hinging side regions together therearound.

As the main purpose of the buffer sheet is to minimise the unpleasant sensation of collecting the animal faeces, it is desirable that the buffer layer is formed from a material having significant thickness, compared to the bag, for example utilising multiple layers of a thin material. It is essential that the buffer sheet maintains a sufficient degree of flexibility so that it may be grasped around the animal faeces by operation of a collector's hand thereby to collect and contain it.

As frequently there may be a high degree of moisture within the animal faeces, it is desirable that the buffer sheet is formed from a material capable of absorbing moisture from the said animal faeces. Conveniently, the buffer sheet may comprise an absorbent viscose material on its animal faeces contacting surface, which viscose material would be bonded to a waterproof backing layer so that moisture absorbed by the buffer layer will not pass to the upper side of the buffer sheet. Preferably, the waterproof backing layer is formed from a plastics sheet material.

As the present invention will find a particular application in the collection of animal faeces from public places, it may be preferred to provide it for use by those within the public place. For example, a park may already have bins provided for the disposal of animal faeces, which bins are provided and maintained by the council. If a supply of collectors according to the present invention were provided in a suitable vending means, the people using the park could obtain them as and when necessary. If the collector is intended to be supplied in such a way, it is desirable that it can be folded into a convenient size and shape for packaging, but may easily be unfolded for use.

In order that the disposal of collectors according to the present invention does not cause undue pollution, it is preferred that they are totally or predominantly formed from biodegradable material. Alternatively, or additionally, the material could be suitable for incineration, along with the animal faeces.

By way of example only, the present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that shown in Figure 1, but showing the bag in an expanded state; Figure 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a similar embodiment; Figure 4 is similar view to Figure 3, but now showing a hand inserted within the bag and an animal faeces beneath the buffer sheet.

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figures 3 and 4, but showing the buffer sheet encompassing the animal faeces; and Figure 6 is a similar view to Figures 3, 4 and 5, but now showing the situation after inversion of the bag over the buffer sheet and animal faeces.

Referring initially to Figure 1, a collector according to the present invention comprising a buffer sheet 10, and a bag 11, is shown. The bag comprises an upper side face 12, and a lower side face 13, and defines an open end 14. The upper side face 12 and the lower side face 13 are connected by intermediate walls 15 and an end wall (not shown) opposite the open end 14. When the bag is packed flat, the intermediate walls 15 are folded inwardly with respect to the long edges 16 of the upper side face 12 and lower side face 13.

The buffer sheet 10 has an upper surface 17 which is waterproof, and a lower surface 18 which is absorbent, in addition the buffer sheet is padded.

The side regions 19 of the buffer sheet 10 extend laterally with respect to the bag 11 and are adapted for downward hinging with respect to the plane of the bag 11. Fold lines 20 define the axes along which the side regions 19 fold.

Extension tabs 21 are provided on the intermediate walls 15, and are shown folded back as they would be prior to use. These tabs could comprise loop shaped handles similar to those on a shopping bag. They need to permit the closure of the bag.

On the upper side face 12, a dotted line 23 indicates a possible enhancement to the present invention. Releasable joins between the upper and lower side faces along join line 23 would define a glove-shaped pocket to more closely locate the hand of a user in the bag. When the bag is extended prior to inversion these releasable joins will separate. In Figure 1 the join line 23 would define a mitten-shaped pocket, but it could alternatively also define pockets for each of the fingers.

In Figure 2, the bag 12 is shown in an open state. The lateral walls 15 which were folded inwardly in Figure 1, are now unfolded and the area of the open end is significantly increased. Now that the bag is opened it is possible, by passing them through the open end 14, for the bag to be inverted over the buffer sheet 10 and any collected animal faeces. The extension tabs 21 are now shown in their extended positions and they are configured to aid the closure of the open end 14 once the bag has been inverted. This would usually be by tying them together to seal the bag and prevent accidental loss of the contents.

In order to demonstrate the mode of use of the present invention, Figures 3 to 6 depict sequential stages in the use thereof. Each of the four figures shows a simplified cross-sectional view of an embodiment similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, and for convenience like parts will be given like reference numerals.

1 In Figure 3, a buffer sheet 10 with a bag 11 connected thereto is shown. The internal walls 15 of the bag are folded inwardly, and the upper side face 12 is closely aligned with the lower side face 13. The side regions 19 are folded downward from the horizontal by an acute angle along fold lines 20. The respective edges 16 of the upper side face 12 and lower side face 13 are releasably joined by adhesive 22.

In use, as shown in Figure 4, a user's hand, indicated by fingers 25 to 28 and thumb 29, is inserted into the interior of the bag 11. The hand may go above or below the inward fold of intermediate walls 15 but it is more convenient if the hand locates beneath them. This is because if the hand is located above the inward fold, it may restrict the unfolding of the intermediate wall once the animal faeces 31 has been grasped.

Once a hand has been placed within the bag, the buffer sheet 10 may be located adjacent the animal faeces 31 to be collected. The side regions 19 fold down along the fold lines 20 and start to contain the animal faeces 31.

Figure 5 shows the situation subsequently, where the fingers 25 to 28 and thumb 29 are used to wrap the buffer sheet 10 around the animal faeces 31 and thereby effect its collection. Once collected and held by the hand within the buffer sheet, it is now possible to lift the grasped animal faeces from the surface upon which it was resting. By disengaging the releasable join formed by the adhesive 22 between the edges 16, the bag may subsequently be extended. As a consequence the size of the open end increases to such a degree that by inversion of the bag over the animal faeces 31 and buffer sheet 10, it is possible to contain them therewithin.

-g- Figure 6 shows the situation once the bag has been inverted, and the hand of the user is now on the outside of the bag, even though it has remained in contact with the same surface. Once this inversion has occurred, the open end of the bag may be closed, for example, using the extension tabs 5 21 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Now that the animal faeces 31 is hygienically-contained within the bag, it may be transported to a suitable disposal point without contaminating the means by which it is transported. For example, if there is no readily available disposal point, it may be placed within a pocket or bag for storage until 10 disposal is possible.

Claims

1. A collector for the manual collection of noxious substances, comprising: a bag having a pair of side faces and an open end, the bag being of a flexible material substantially impervious to the noxious substance and of a sufficiently large size to accommodate a collector's hand inserted through the open end; and a buffer sheet secured to one side face of the bag and of a size not significantly smaller than the one side face, the buffer sheet being relatively inflexible compared to the side faces of the bag; whereby a hand inserted into the bag may offer the buffer sheet to the noxious substance and then pick up the substance, whereafter the bag may be inverted over the buffer sheet and the collected substance by pulling the other side face over the one side face, buffer sheet and substance, so enclosing the substance within the inverted bag.

2. A collector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bag portion has intermediate walls connecting together the corresponding edges of the side walls, whereby the side walls of the bag may be separated by the intermediate walls moving out of the general planes of the side walls.

3. A collector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediate walls are 20 folded inwardly of the bag whereby each edge of one side wall substantially overlies the corresponding edge of the other side wall.

4. A collector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the overlying edges of the side walls extending away from the open end of the bag are releasably joined together, the bag having sufficient volume to accommodate a collector's hand with the edges joined together, but the edges being released to permit inversion of the bag.

5. A collector as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the inner faces of the side walls are releasably-joined to define a gloveshaped pocket for locating the hand of a user.

6. A collector as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the releasable joins are formed by an adhesive material.

7. A collector as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the releasable joins are formed by spot-welds.

8. A collector as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the buffer sheet is of a greater size than the one side face to which the buffer sheet is attached.

9. A collector as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the one side face is generally of rectangular shape and the buffer sheet is generally of circular shape, the one side face lying wholly within the area of the buffer sheet.

10. A collector as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the regions of the buffer sheet beyond the edges of the side walls extending away from the open end of the bag are arranged to hinge downwardly under gravity, out of the plane of the one side sheet.

11. A collector as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the buffer sheet is of a material capable of absorbing moisture from the noxious substance.

12. A collector as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bag is formed with integral ties which are exposed for use in closing the opening to the bag at least when the bag has been inverted.

13. A collector as claimed in any of the preceding claims which is adapted to be folded for storage prior to use.

14. A collector as claimed in claim 13 which is contained within a removable wrapping.

15. A collector as claimed in any of the preceding claims which is adapted for storage and dispensing from a vending machine.

16. A collector as claimed in any of the preceding claims which is completely or predominantly formed from biodegradable material.

17. A collector for the manual collection of noxious substances and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.