GB2465418A

GB2465418A - Animal excrement collection device

Info

Publication number: GB2465418A
Application number: GB0821217A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Patrick Sheehan; John Patrick Andrew Sheehan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-20
Filing date: 2008-11-20
Publication date: 2010-05-26
Also published as: GB0821217D0

Abstract

An animal excrement collection device 1 is formed from a shaft 2 having lower and upperhollow chambers 3, 4 with a closure wall 5 there between. Lower chamber 3 forms an excrement storage chamber 3A and has an open end 3B which has a pivoted flap closure 6, operable by a catch 11 and trigger 10 on a handle 8, to open or close. In use the flap 6 is opened, the shaft 2 is held by a user and used to scoop up excrement through the open end 3B, and then the flap 6 is closed to contain the excrement inside the hollow chamber 3. A hose connection 7 may be provided to assist in cleaning the device 1. A storage compartment 9B may be provided to store bags.

Description

I

Title: Canine Excrement Collection Device The present invention relates to a canine excrement collection device.

In many public places it is a requirement that persons walking dogs be responsible for the collection and safe disposal of excrement, e.g. into bins provided for this purpose. Various different collection devices have hitherto been used ranging from various types of scoops, to bags held in the hand and the like.

A problem with known scoops is that they are inconvenient and unsightly to walk with. A problem with bags is that they require the user to stop down to collect excrement off the ground and many people do not like handling excrement in the hand, albeit with the bag forming a barrier between the excrement and the hand.

The invention seeks to provide an improved canine excrement collection device, and especially to a collection device which looks like a walking stick.

According to the present invention there is provided a canine excrement collection device comprising: a) a shaft, said shaft being hollow over at least part of its length with an open end and said hollow part forming an excrement storage chamber, b) a handle at the end of the shaft remote from the open end, c) a openable closure at the open end of the shaft to open and seal said open end, and d) operable means to open and close the closure, in use the closure being opened and by said operable means, and said shaft being held by the user and used to scoop up excrement through the open and, and said closure being closed to contain the excrement inside the hollow shaft.

Preferably the shaft is separated into an upper and lower chamber with a closure between the two chambers.

Preferably the closure is a flap.

Preferably a water inlet is provided in the shaft chamber to clean the excrement storage chamber. The water inlet may be provided in said lower chamber, and preferably adjacent said closure between said two chambers. Preferably the water inlet is adapted to receive a hose connector, e.g. of the type produced by Hozelock (trade mark).

Preferably the flap is hinged to the shaft open end. Preferably the flap is biased to open said open end, and said operable means includes an elongate member which extends between the flap and the handle which when pulled closes the flap. Preferably the elongate member is pulled by means of a trigger adjacent the handle.

Preferably the trigger moves from a first position where the flap is closed to a second position where the flap is open. Preferably a releasable catch is provided to retain the trigger in said second position.

Preferably the elongate member is a cord. Preferably the cord extends from the handle through an upper chamber of the shaft, and the lower chamber of the shaft supports an external channel for said cord to lead the cord to the flap.

Preferably the shaft open end has a bevelled edge to facilitate scooping of excrement.

Preferably said handle includes a storage cavity for plastic bags. Preferably the bags are adapted to be inserted through said open end with the bag mouth inverted around the open end outside the shaft, whereby excrement can be collected into the bag to prevent soiling of the excrement storage chamber.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross section view of the collection device with the flap open, Figure 2 shows a cross section view of the collection device with the flap closed, and Figure 3 shows enlarged sections of the flap end, centre, and handle end of the collection device, and Figure 4 shows a side view of the collection device.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a canine excrement collection device L Device 1 has a shaft 2 having a lower hollow chamber 3, and upper hollow chamber 4 and a closure wall 5 between the hollow chambers. Lower hollow chamber 3 forms an excrement storage chamber 3A with an open end 3B. The open end 3B has a bevelled edge to facilitate scooping of excrement.

A flap closure 6 is pivoted at 6A to the outside wall of lower chamber 3 adjacent the open end 3B of the shaft to seal the open end. Flap 6 is spring biased away from the open end 3B.

A water inlet 7 is provided in the shaft lower chamber 3 to clean the excrement storage chamber by flushing it with water. The water inlet 7 is adjacent closure wall 5. The water inlet 7 is adapted to receive a hose connector, e.g. of the type produced by Hozelock (trade mark).

A handle 8 is at the end of the shaft upper chamber remote from the open end 3B. Handle 8 has a removable cap 9A which reveals a plastic bag storage cavity 9B. Handle 8 has a finger trigger 10 with a toothed rack I OA and a releasable catch button 11 with a pawl 11 A spring biased to engage with rack 1OA, normally allowing one way movement of trigger 10.

Depression of catch button 11 disengages pawl hA from rack IOA allowing trigger 10 to slide.

The end of trigger rack I OA is connected to the flap 6 by an operable means elongate member in the form of cord 12 whereby movement of the trigger operates the flap. Cord 12 extends from the handle 8 through upper chamber 4 of the shaft. Cord 12 passes over rollers 12A,12B out of upper chamber 4 into an external channel 13 supported on lower chamber 3 to lead the cord to the flap 6.

Trigger 10 moves from a first position (Figure 2) where the flap is pulled closed, to a second position (Figure 1) where the flap is open. Releasable catch 11 is provided to retain the trigger in the first position. When catch 11 is released (by means of pawl hA disengaging from rack 1OA) the trigger slides back to second position by the spring biased flap moving it through the cord 12.

In use the flap 6 is opened by the one way movement trigger 10 from the second to the first position as provided by paw! 11 A sliding over rack I OA. The shaft 2 is held by the user and used to scoop up excrement through the open 3B into the lower chamber 3. Flap 6 is then closed to contain the excrement inside the lower chamber 3 by moving the trigger 10 to the second position by pressing release catch button 11. This operation can be performed several times until lower chamber 3 is full. When it is desired to remove the excrement from lower chamber 3, a hose can be attached to the water inlet 7 and the excrement flushed out, e.g. into a drain or garden area.

If desired a plastic bag stored in cavity 9B may be inserted through open end 3B with the bag mouth inverted around the open end outside the shaft, whereby excrement can be collected into the bag to prevent soiling of the excrement storage chamber. When the bag is full, the bag may be removed and placed in a suitable receptacle for waste excrement (e.g. as provided for by local authorities). Use of a bag obviates the need to use a hose to clean the lower chamber 3.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. a

Claims

CLAIMS1. A canine excrement collection device comprising: a) a shaft, said shaft being hollow over at least part of its length with an open end and said hollow part forming an excrement storage chamber, b) a handle at the end of the shaft remote from the open end, c) an openable closure at the open end of the shaft to open and seal said open end, and d) operable means to open and close the closure, *: :: : in use the closure being opened and by said operable means, and said shaft being held by the user and used to scoop up excrement through the open and, and said closure being closed to contain the excrement inside the hollow shaft.*.S S. * SS SS**S * *

: *.
2. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is separated **.* : *.: into an upper and lower chamber with a closure between the two chambers.
3. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a water inlet is provided in the shaft chamber to clean the excrement storage chamber.
4. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 2 and 3, wherein the water inlet may be provided in said lower chamber.
5. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 4, wherein the water inlet is adjacent said closure between said two chambers.
6. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 3, 4, or 5, wherein the water inlet is adapted to receive a hose connector.
7. A canine excrement collection device according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure is a flap. *..* * * * *. S
8. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 7, wherein the flap is hinged to the shaft open end.* s5S S. * *SS..... * *: ** *
9. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 8, wherein the flap is biased to S...

* : *.: open said open end, and said operable means includes an elongate member which extends between the flap and the handle which when pulled closes the flap.
10. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 9, wherein the elongate member is pulled by means of a trigger adjacent the handle.
11. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 10, wherein the trigger moves from a first position where the flap is closed to a second position where the flap is open.
12. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 11, wherein a releasable catch is provided to retain the trigger in said second position.
13. A canine excrement collection device according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the elongate member is a cord.
14. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 13, wherein the cord extends from the handle through an upper chamber of the shaft, and the lower chamber of the shaft supports *: :: : an external channel for said cord to lead the cord to the flap. * *** * * S..
15. A canine excrement collection device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shaft *SSSSS * S * open end has a bevelled edge to facilitate scooping of excrement. * *S * S S *S.S

* : *
16. A canine excrement collection device according to any preceding claim, wherein said handle includes a storage cavity for plastic bags.
17. A canine excrement collection device according to claim 16, wherein the bags are adapted to be inserted through said open end with the bag mouth inverted around the open end outside the shaft, whereby excrement can be collected into the bag to prevent soiling of the excrement storage chamber.
18. A canine excrement collection device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. * * * S. * * *5S * . * .*..S *. * .S..... * . * .* * S *IS.....S