GB2410883A

GB2410883A - Animal waste collection device

Info

Publication number: GB2410883A
Application number: GB0403221A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Derrick Thame Sunderland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-13
Filing date: 2004-02-13
Publication date: 2005-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-13
Also published as: GB0403221D0; GB2410883B

Abstract

An animal waste collection device comprising a harness 3 and a collection bag 11. The harness is made up of a pair of dorsal straps 6 (a and b) joined by a transverse strap (8). This transverse strap supports an anchoring strap or cord (9) which in use passes beneath the base of the tail. The collection bag is attached to the transverse strap by releasable fixings. The forward ends of the dorsal straps are attached to an adjustable girth strap 4 which itself is attached to the walking collar 2. The collection bag incorporates an optional sealing element.

Description

Description 1

Animal VasteCollector The present Invention is in the field of public hygiene, and is particularly concerned with avoiding the fouling of public places with animal waste. Most particularly, the invention seeks to provide a collection device for attachment to a domestic quadruped such as a dog or cat, in order to collect solid waste voided by the animal.

In recent times it has become less and less socially acceptable IO to allow domesticated animals such as dogs to foul public places suchas footpaths and public parks. Dog owners are increasingly encouraged to dispose hygienically of waste matter producer by their dogs, and a method widely adopted by conscien tious owners is to place a hand inside an impermeable bag, pick up the waste with the bag interposed between the hand and the waste and then invert the bag so that the bag contains the waste ready for disposal in an appropriate receptacle.

However, many dog owners are reluctant to come into such Close contact with their pet's waste material.

There is therefore a need for a collection device for waste material whichremoves the need for the owner physically to handle the waste material during the disposal process.

Published international application TO OI/47352 describes a dog waste collecting arrangement in which a waste collection recep tacle is secured to a dog by means of a harness, the straps of the harness extending between the hind legs of the dog to secure the receptacle firmly in position. This arrangement, however, is unsatisfactory as the presence of straps between the dog's hind legs is uncomfortable for the dog.

The present invention seeks to provide a collection device for animal waste in which the waste is deposited directly into a IO disposal container by the animal, and wherein the disposal con tainer is temporarily attached to a harness worn by the animal, and is removed for disposal after use.

In order to attach the collection device to the animal, a first aspect of the invention provides a waste collection system I} comprising a collection bag and a harness, the harness being adapted to extend along the animal's back, with the rear end of the harness being optionally secured at the base of the animal's tail and the forward end of the harness being secured to an existing walking harness or collar customarily worn by the animal and optionally also to a girth strap which passes around the animal's body. The harness arrangement of the present invention does not involve any harness elements extending between the hind legs of the animal.

At the rear part of the harness a pair of attachment point s are provided, spaced laterally from the animal's tail, for attach ing the collection bag.

A second aspect of the invention provides a collection bag attachable to the rear end of the harness by the releaseable attachment points, the bag being provided with an entry opening which is held in alignment with the cloacal orifice of the animal in use. The bag incorporates a relatively rigid reinforcing element to which the harness As attached and which positions the opening ID accurately for use. Optionally the bag includes a sealing element for sealing the bag after use and prior to disposal.

The bag may also comprise internal anti-adhesion elements to ensure that waste matter passes into the bag without impediment Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail I5 with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a side view of the collection device of the present invention worn by a dog; Figure Ia is a detail view of the collar harness of Figure I; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative harness arrange meet; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further alternative and simplified harness arrangement; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a collection bag for use with the harness; Figure 4a is a perspective flew of a folded collection bag before use with the harness; Figure 4b is a perspective view of an unfolded collection bag in use with the harness; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the collection bag taken in the plane V-V of Figure 4; Figure 5a is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing the bag in a sealed configuration after use; Figure 5b is a front face view of an alternative sealing element before use; Figure 5c is a cross-sectional view of the alternative sealing device shown in 5b; and Figure 6 is a view showing the harness of Figure 2 and the collection device, in use.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 snows a dog 1 in side view, the conventional walking collard being attached to the dog about the neck. The waste collection device comprises a harness 3 and a collar harness 4. The harness 3 is formed by a pair of dorsal straps 6a Andrea which extend along the dog's back in spaced-apart relationship to a point adjacent the base of the dogs tail 7. The rearmost ends of the dorsal straps 6a and 6b are separated from a transverse strap 8 passing in front of the base of the dogmas tail by elastic elements I3. An anchoring strap or cord 9 is attached to the central point of the transverse strap 8, and in use passes behind the base of the dog's tail to secure the transverse strap 8 against forward displacement.

Referring to Figure Ia, the collar harness 4 comprises a girth ID strap 4a which passes around the dog's body, and a forwardly extending securing strap 4c which connects the uppermost part of the girth-strap to the walking collar 2 of the dog. Diagonal bracing straps 4d are preferably provided so that the securing strap 4c is attached to the girth strap 4d at three points, as I) shown in the Figures. The girth strap 4a may be made adjustable by the provision al' releaseable buckles 5 at each side and a sliding adjuster 4e therebetween.

The forward ends of the dorsal straps 6a and 6b are attached to the girth strap 4e by adjustable fixtures. In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 2, the girth strap is adjustably secured to the dorsal straps 6a, 6b and the dorsal straps 6a and 6b are extended forwardly beyond the girth strap 4e or the collar harness 4, to be attached at their respective forward ends to a collar 2 or walking harness worn by the dog.

In a yet further alternative, a breast strap may extend from the girthstrap to the collar across the animal's body between the forelegs and the neck, to secure the girth strap 4 against movement to the rear. The position of the attachment of the girth strap 4 along the lengths of the dorsal straps 6a, 6b may be node adjustable by means of buckles etc. For longer dogs, a secondary girth strap may be provided in addition to the collar harness, positioned further back along the dog to keep the dorsal straps in position.

IO The anchor strap 9 may be permanently fixed to the transverse strap 8 at one of its ends and releasably fixed to the transverse strap at its other end, such as by means of a hook and loop, button and buttonhole, or any other suitable releaseable fastening means I5 At each end of the transverse strap 8 there is provided a releaseable mounting element IO, to which a waste collection bag It may be releasably fixed. The collection bag will be described below.

The harnesses illustrated in Figures I, la and 2 may be made so that the collar harness 4, girth strap, dorsal straps and transverse strap 8 are correctly sized to fit the dog or other animal with which the device is intended to be used. However, in order to provide a harness which is adjustable to suit many different animals, the girth strap may be made adjustable in length by suitable means. For example, the buckle 5 may comprise a female element fixed to one end of the girth strap 4 and a cooperable male element which is adjustable securable to a point adjacent the other end of the girth strap 4. By positioning the male element of the buckle at the appropriate spacing along the girth strap 4, the girth strap 4 may be adjusted to suit the animal concerned. Alternatively, the girth strap may be formed in two parts, namely an overstep extending across IO the dog's back and an understrap extending beneath the dog's body.

The respective ends of the oversteps and understrap may be connected by resilient male and female connectors, and a sliding adjuster may be provided on the understrap or overstep for fitting the girth strap to the dog. Similarly, the dorsal I5 straps 6a and 6b may be mace adjustable in length to accommodate differently-sized animals.

Figure 3 shows an alternative simplified embodiment of the harness 3, intended for use in conjunction with a conventional harness or collar customarily worn by a dog. The harness of Figure 3 comprises a pair of dorsal straps 6a and 6b joined at their rear ends by a transverse link I2. The harness further comprises a transverse strap 8 extending parallel to the transverse link I2, the transverse strap 8 as in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 comprising a pair of mounting elements IO at its ends, and an anchor strap or cord 9 at its central region for securing the transverse strap 8 to the base of the tail. The respective ends of the transverse strap a are joined to the transverse link I2 by Masticated straps I3.

At the forward ends of the dorsal straps 6a and 6b there are provided pads I4 of the hook part of a hook-and-loop fastener, while extending along the length of the dorsal straps 6a and 6b there are provided pads or strips I5 of the looped part of a hook-and-loop fastener, cooperable with the pads I4.

To apply the harness of Figure 2 to a dog, the transverse strap 8 is placed across the dog's back slightly in front of the base of the tail, and the anchoring strap 9 is then passed beneath the tail IO and secured to the transverse strap 8. The dorsal straps 6a and 6b are then laid along the dog's back and the optional girth strap 4 passed beneath the dog's body and secured by means of the buckles or clips 5. The optional and attachable girth strap 4 is correctly positioned at a point along the animals body to IN give maximum stability to the harness of Figure 2 by releaseable flaps 4b. engaging hook and loop fastening situated on top of the girth strap through which the dorsal straps cross at a 45 angle.

by securing the harness in this way, the mounting elements IO are.

fixed in relation to the dog at an appropriate position for securing the collection bag 11.

The harness shown in Figure 3 is attached to the dog in a similar manner to that described above. With the dog already wearing its customary collar 2 and a collar ha mess 4, or its walking harness, the transverse strap B is placed across the dog's body slightly in front of the tail, and the anchor strap 9 is passed beneath the tail and secured to the transverse strap 8. The dorsal straps 6a and 6b are then laid along the back of the dog and passed beneath the dog's walking harness, the collar harness 4, or the collar 2. The forward ends of the dorsal straps are then folded back so that the hook pads I4 of the respective dorsal straps 6a and 6b engage the loop pads I5. A slight tension may be applied to the dorsal straps 6a and 6b, so that elasticated IO straps I3 are placed under slight tension and any slack in the straps is taken up.

The collection bag for use with the apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring now to Figure 4. the foldable collection bag II comprises I' a sealed, horizontally folding container which is folded at line F. over the rear wall of the bag 26 before use and unfolded during and after use. Line F is that horizontal cross section of the bag II which is below the semi-circular shaped notch 28a but above the openings 2I and 28, being not attached to the reinforcing 2Q element 20. The illustrated embodiment, a rectangular gusseted bag having a front wall 20 with an entry opening 2I therein, a top wall 22, a bottom wall 23, side walls 24 and 25 and a rear wall 26. The top, bottom, side and rear walls form a sealed container, whose only access is via the entry opening 2I.

The walls of the container are preferably formed from impervious material such as polyethylene, polypropylene or other suitable flexible plastics material. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the bag may comprise front and rear panels joined together at their respective upper and lower edges, with gussetted sides connecting the respect side edges of the front and rear panels. The entry opening will then be formed in the front panel.

Attached to the front wall 20 of the bag II is a reinforcing element 27, which in tne illustrated embodiment is in the form IO of a "a". The reinforcing element 27 is preferably manufactured from a plastics material such as polypropylene, and may be up to Imp in thickness to impart sufficient rigidity to the reinforcing element 27.

In the embodiment;shown, the reinforcingelemet 27 is formed with I5 an opening 28 which coincides with entry opening 2I of the bag il.

The reinforcing element 27 includes a pair of arms 29 which extend upwardly and outwardly from the opening 28 beyond the front wall 20 of the bag, to terminate in mounting portions 30. That part of the reinforcing element situated above the opening 20h exactly half-way between the pair of arms 30 is formed in a semi-circular 'U' shaped notch 2&. The top of opening 28 resembles the contour of the base of the 'I' shaped notch.

It will be understood that the arms 29 and mounting portion 30 project upwardly and outwardly beyond the bag 11.

The mounting portions 30 include mounting elements 3I cooperable with the mounting elements IO positioned at the respective ends of the transverse strap 8 of the harness. In one embodiment, the mounting elements IO of the harness may be simple buttons, studs or nipples and the mounting elements 3I of the bag may be button hols or other openings to engage the studs or nipples. Alternatively, the harness may be provided with clips or clamps to engage the ends IO of the arms 29 of the reinforcing element 27 to temporarily secure the reinforcing element 27 at the ends of the transverse strap 8 of the harness. In a further alternative embodiment, the reinforcing element 27 may be provided with adhesive pads at its mounting portions 30, and the ends of the transverse strap 8 of the harness I] real be provided with laying surfaces to which the adhesive pads may be peelably secured. Alternatively mounting portions 30 may have pads of a loop fastening element co-operable to hook fastening elements secured to each end surface of the transverse strap 8 of the harness.

;1 When the reinforcing element 27 is flat, the spacing between the mounting portions 30 is greater than the spacing between the moun ting elements IO of the harness. When the mounting portions 30 are attached to their respective mounting elements IO, the rein forcing element 27 adopts a curved configuration, thus imparting I2 strength to the element 28 to support the collection 27.

The collection bag shown in Figures 4, 4A. 48 and 5 incorporates a sealing membrane 32. The sealing membrane 32 is permanently fixed to the bag It by means of a transverse strap 32a extending along the lower edge of the front wall 20 of the bag. A second section 32b of the sealing membrane extends beneath the bottom wall 23 of the bag 11, but is not fixed thereto. A third section 32c extends upwardly in contact with the rear wall 26 of the bag, and is secured thereto by a peelable adhesive, preferably adjacent IO the upper part of the third section as seen in Figure 4. At the upper edge of the third section 32c, the sealing membrane is doubled over and a fourth section 32d extends downwardly with the third section 32c. A gripping tab 32c extends away from the bag at the lower edge of the fourth section 32c of the sealing membrane 32.

I5 In the embodiment shown, the surface of the third section of the sealing membrane 32c which is covered by the fourth section 32d is provided with a contact adhesive, and the fourth section 32d is provided with a release coating so as to be peelably removable from the third section 32c. Once the collection bag has been used, the tab 32e is gripped and the fourth section 32& of the sealing membrane is peeled away from the third section 32c to expose the contact adhesive. The tab is then pulled to release the third section 32c of the sealing membrane from the rear wall 26 of the bag.

The sealing membrane may now be drawn beneath the lower wall 23 of the bag, (to bring the adhesively-coated portion of the third section 32c of the sealing membrane into registration with the opening 28 and in let opening 21. The contact adhesive of the third section 32c will then adhere to a region surrounding the openings' to fix the sealing membrane over the inlet opening, preventing any egress of the contents of the bag. The bag may then be safely and hygienically disposed of in an appropriate collection receptacle.

In an alternative embodiment of the sealing element, the re inforcing element 27 incorporates two paralell vertical slots 27a situated either side of the entry opening 28. In length, exceeding that of the length of the entry opening between top and bottom. A 'U' shaped closing element 27b incorporating upwardly protruding arms 27c and at its base a transverse bar 27d is fitted against the arms 30 of the front face of the re inforcir element 27 by means of securable sets of studs or buttons S incorporating male and female fitter elements.

These studs or buttons are connected via holes H situated at equilateral points H3 in the transverse bar 27d of tne 'U' shaped closing element 27b.

In this optional device the extreme outer-corners 20b of the base of the reinforcing element 27 are slightly extended outward and downward so as to accommodate elements of the device.

When fitted together tne studs S incorporate an intermediary rod R which penetrate the 'U' shaped closing element 27b via holes H and pass through the base of the slots 27a in the re inforcing element 27. The studs S are generally fitted with a minor clearance which allow the 'U' shaped closing element 27b to move freely and securably within the length of the slots towards points H4 topmost tne reinforcing element.

In fitting the bag 11 to the transverse strap 8 of the harness it is understood that both the reinforcing element 27 and the U' shaped closing element 27b shall attach at the same time to releaseable mounting elements 10 on the transverse strap 8 via corresponding holes or slot fastenings situated on the up wardly protruding arms of both structures 27 and 27b and are removed together after use of the bag.

After removal the movement of reinforcing element 27 and 'U' shaped closing element 27b is generally accomplished by sliding one against the other using finger and thumb from a first position O to a second Position 01. It is further envisaged that the outward faces of the upwardly protruding ares of the reinforcing element 27 and the 'U' shaped closing element 27b may incorporate ribs or dimples to facilitate movement (not shown).

This movement allows a sealing membrane to be rolled over open- ing 28 and inlet opening 2L after use by an upward action of the movable transverse bar 27d to form an impervious seal preventing any egress of the bag's contents before disposal, The sealing membrane Q is generally rectangular in shape having top and bottom edges Q1 and Q2 respectively and two side edges.

The sealing membrane has an adhesive face Q5 and a non-adhesive face Q&. The membrane is permanently attached along its bottom adhesive edge Q2 to the front face of the reinforcing element 27 between equilateral points 20b below the opening 28.

Before use the sealing membrane Q thus secured is rolled back over the transverse bar 27d of the 'U' shaped closing element 27b.

That part of the flexible sealing membrane thus exposed is temp orarily covered by face W1 of an overlay of flexible material W. This overlay having face '1 and a reverse face W2 of protective material.

The top edge of this overlay W3 extends beyond the exposed face of the sealing membrane and is rolled back concentrically on it self as shown in Figure 5c being permanently secured to the extreme outer corners 20b of the reinforcing element 27 by means of protruding tabs L which emanate obliquely from the bottom edge of the overlay W. It is generally uncerstood that the anchoring of overlay W to the extreme outer corners 20b does not impede the upward move 2O ment of the transverse bar 27d.

After defecation the upwardly protruding arms of reinforcing element 27 and 'U' shaped movable element 27b are detached together from the transverse strap part of the harness 8 and the releaseable mounting elements 10.

The sealing element is effected with a sliding action of the U' shaped movable element in an upright direction over re inforcing element 27. The sealing membrane is by this means rolled upwards via movement of transverse bar 27d to adhere over the opening 28. It is envisaged that the periphery of opening 28 may be treated with suitable materials that encourage adhesion.

In a yet further alternative embodiment (not shown) the attach ment and sliding action of the movable 'U' shaped element 27b over the reinforcing element 27 may be accomplished by paralell elements of 'tongue and groove tracking' situated either side of the opening 28 and exceeding the whole length of the opening from top to bottom. That part of the tongue element of the tracking referred to being part of the reinforcing element 27 and that part of the groove element being part of the movable 'U' shaped element herein described.

It is further envisaged that at the extreme ends of the upwardly 2Q protruding arms of the reinforcing element 27 and or the 'D' shaped closing element semi- circular tab shapesTmay be in corporated to facilitate the disengagement of the disposable collection bag 11 from releaseable mounting portions 10.

In use, once the harness has been secured to the animal, a bag is attached to the harness by engaging the semi-circular 'U' shaped notch 28a below and around the animal's tail. The elements 51 of the reinforcing membrane 27 are further engaged with mounting elements 10 of the transverse strap 8 of the harness. The reinforcing element 27 is shaped so that this attachment between the harness and the reinforcing element is arranged to impart a curvature to the reinforcing element 27, substantially about the axis X shown in Figure 4.

This will cause the front wall 20 and rear wall 26 of the bag 11 to become similarly curved, the flexibility of the top Add bottom walls 22 and 23 enabling tne bag thus to conform to the contours of the hind quarters of the animal.

The harness 8 and reinforcing element 27 are dimensioned and shaped so that, when the bag 11 is attached to the harness the inlet opening 21 and the opening 28 are aligned with the anus of the animal, and the rigidity imparted to the reinforcing element 27 by its curvature holds the opening 28 in close proximity to the animalis body.

In the case of a dog, which adopts a squatting position for defeca tion, the rigidity of the reinforcing element 27 supports the bag It in a generally horizontal position below the hind quarters of the dog when the dog adopts this squatting position. This ensures that waste matter voided by the dog passes through the opening 28 and into the bag.

In a preferred embodiment, adhesion of the waste matter to the IO interior of the rear wall 26 of the bag is prevented by positioning a number of loose sheets 40 of flexible material adjacent the rear wall 26. The sheets 40 may be foldo6, and are sufficiently Rigid so as to be selfsupporting, but are sufficiently flexible that when waste matter enters through the inlet opening 21 and adheres I5 to one of the sheets 40, the sheets 40 can slide one over the other to ensure that waste matter 4I moves towards the lower wall 23 of the bag 11 and the inlet opening does not become obstructed.

To prevent these loose sheets from prematurely falling to the bottom of the bag due to the general movement of the animal before actual 2Q defecation, embodiment 4A shows how the container I1 is folded horizontally at line F over the rear wall 29 of the container It thereby trapping the loose sheets temporarily before the animal defecates.

The weight of waste matter deposited through hole 28 and 2I on to sheets 40 forces the bag 11 to unfold thereby freeing the sheets 40 to fall to the bottom of the bug 23. The unfolded bag is shown in Figure 4B.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the reinforcing element 27 is formed with an opening 28 which coincides with the inlet opening 2I of the bag. It will be understood that the reinforcing element 27 may not entirely surround the inlet opening 2I of the bag, but may pass only adjacent the lateral and lower edges of the inlet IQ opening 2I. Alternatively, the reinforcing element may comprise a pair of upwardly diverging arms 29 terminating in mounting portions 40, a central transverse element extending above the inlet opening 2I and a pair of depending elements extending down past the side edges of the opening 2I and fixed to the front wall I5 20 of the bag. Such a reinforcing element will be generally in the form of a "a" with the upper arms divergent, or in the form of a tY'r a tYr' a 'U' or an raft.

In a further alternative embodiment, the collection bag may be provided with auxiliary ties extending from the reinforcing element, 2 for tying round the dog's tail to further secure the bag in place.

In a further embodiment, not illustrated, the transverse strap 8 may be held in place on the dog by attaching the transverse strap directly to the internal or external surfaced of a coat worn by the dog. This may be done using a burr-type fastener, or by conventional buttons or press studs.

In a yet further alternative, the mounting elements IO of the harness may be attached not to a harness but directly to a coat worn by the dog in cold weather.

It will be appreciated that differently-sized collection bags It may be provided, to suit different breeds of dog. The reinforcing element 27 of the bags may be the same, or may be made to have IO different dimensions to suit the size of the dog. 2L

Claims

Claims I. A waste collection apparatus for collecting solid waste voided

by an animal, the apparatus comprising: a harness for fitting to the animal and comprising a pair of dorsal straps Joined by means of an elastic element at their rear ends to a transverse strap, the transverse strap being adapted to extend across the animal's back adjacent the base of the tall and having attachment points adjacent its ends which serve to attach both an anchoring strap passing beneath an animal's IO tail and also the collection bag element of the apparatus; a collection bag comprising a container having an opening, and a support element attached to the container and adapted to be releaseably secured to the attachment points of the transverse strap of the harness. this support element is securably fitted I' in use, by means of a semi-circular notch, beneath and around the tail of the animal to nold the opening of the container in alignment with the cloacal orifice of the animal.

2. A waste collection apparatus according to claim I, wherein the forward ends of the dorsal straps are adapted to be fixed to a collar or harness worn by the animal.

3. A waste collection apparatus according to claims I and 2 whereby the dorsal straps are made adjustable in length by means of buckles and sliding adjusters.

4 A waste collection apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the harness comprises a girth strap extendable around the body of the animal and attachable to the dorsal straps intermediate their length_ 5. A waste collection apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the girth strap is attachable to a collar or walking harness 6- A waste collection apparatus according to claims 4 and 5 wherein the girth strap is made adjustable in length by means of a buckle and sliding adjuster.

IO 7. A waste collection apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the forward ends of the dorsal straps are pro vided with respective spaced fastening elements cooperable to form an attachment loop at the forward end of each dorsal strap.

8. A waste collection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fastening elements are cooperating parts of a burr-type fastener.

9. A waste collection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fastening elements are cooperating parts of a buckle.

IO. A waste collection apparatus according to any preceding claim., wherein the collection bag comprises a sealing element releaseably attached to the bag in a first position clear of the opening, and attachable to the bag in a second position to seal the opening.

II. A waste collection apparatus according to claim IO wherein the sealing element is hingedly attached to the bag in said first position, and is movable to said second position by swinging movement about the hinge.

I2. A waste collection apparatus according to claim IO or claim II, wherein the sealing element includes an adhesive surface attachable to the bag to fix the sealing element to the bag at a region surrounding the opening.

IO I3. A waste collection apparatus according to Any precedingclaim, wherein the collection bag contains one or more loose flexible sheets disposed opposite the opening.

I4. A waste collection apparat w according to any preceding claim wherein the collection bag includes an auxiliary fastening element I) engageable around the animal's tail.

I5. A harness for a waste collection apparatus according to claim I, comprising: a pair of dorsal straps fixed attheir rear ends to a transverse strap, the transverse strap being adapted to extend across the animal's back adjacent the base of the tail and having attach ment points adjacent its ends.

I6. A harness according to claim I wherein the transverse strap comprises a forward strap part and a rear strap part, joined by an elastic element, and wherein the dorsal straps are attached to the forward strap part and the attachment points are provided on the rear strap part.

I7. A harness according to claim I4 or claim I5r wherein the forward ends of the dorsal straps are adapted to be fixed to a collar or harness worn by the animal.

IR. A harness according to claim I5 or claim I6, further com I prising a girth strap attachable to the forward ends of the dorsal straps and attachable to a collar or walking harness of the animal.

I9. A harness according to any of claims I4 to I6 further com prising a girth strap extendable around the body of the animal and attachable to the dorsal straps intermediate their lengths. I5

20. A harness according to any claims I7 to I9 wherein the forward ends of the dorsal straps are provided with respective spaced fastening elements cooperable to form an attachment loop at the forward end of each dorsal strap.

2I. A harness according to claim 20 wherein the fastening elements are cooperating parts of a burr-type fastener or a buckle.

22. A dog coat having a rear dorsal edge adapted to pass adjacent to andin front of the dog's tail when worn, the coat having attachment means for attaching a waste collection bag thereto.

23. A dog coat according to claim 22, wherein the attachment means comprises means for attaching to the coat a transverse strap having collection bag mounting element at its ends.

24. A dog coat according to claim 22, wherein the coat is pro_ vided adjacent its rear dorsal edge with mounting elements for ID releaseably mounting a collection bag thereto.

25. A waste collection bag for use in the apparatus of claim I5 and I6 or with the coat of claims 22 to 24, comprising: a flexible impervious, sealed bag incorporating gusset ed sides having a front face formed with an entry opening; IS a reinforcing element securably shaped with a semicircular notch to fit, in use, beneath and around an animal's tail, this reinforcing element naving attachment portions extending beyond the edges of the front face band the attachment portions being cooperable with mounting elements of a coat or harness for releaseably attaching the collection bag to an animal.

26. A waste collection bag according to claim 25, further com prising a sealing element between a first position clear of the entry opening and a second position covering the entry opening.

27. A waste collection bag according to claim 26 wherein the sealing element is held in its first position by a releaseable adhesive bond, and permanent adhesive means are provided to seal the sealing element about the periphery of the entry opening when the sealing element is in its second position.

28. A waste collection bag according to claim 25 further comprising a sealing element distributed from a first position to a second position about the periphery of the entry opening via a movable device co-operable with the reinforcing element, attaching to it by means of studs or buttons linked through paralell slots.

29. A waste collection bag according to claims 25 and 28 wherein the movable device IS movably attached to the reinforcing element by means of paralell tongue and groove tracking.

30. A waste collection bag according to claim 25, 28 and 29 wherein the movable device has attachment portions corresponding to those of the reinforcing element.

31. A waste collection bag according to any of claims 25 to further including one or more loose single and folded flexible sheets disposed within the bag opposite the entry opening.

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32. A waste collection bag according to claims 25 to 31 wherein a top section of tree sealed bag is horizontally folded over the rear wall of the bag to secure, temporarily, the loose sheets contained within in a first position, and unfolds to release the sheets in use in a second position.

33. A waste collection bag according to any of claims25 to 32 wherein the bag is formed from flexible plastics sheet material.

34. An animal waste collection apparatus substantially as described herein, with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

35. A harness substatially as herein described, wi reference to Figures 1, la, 2, 3 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

36. A waste collection bag substantially as herein described, with reference to Figures 4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 5b or 5c of the accompanying drawings.