GB2470552A

GB2470552A - Dog excrement capturing tool

Info

Publication number: GB2470552A
Application number: GB0908898A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Philip Barron
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-26
Filing date: 2009-05-26
Publication date: 2010-12-01
Also published as: GB0908898D0

Abstract

A dog excrement capturing tool, comprising an extendable/retractable loop 2 capable of holding a collection bag or sachet (4, figure 6) is described. The loop may extend from inside the end of a hollow tube 1 with a hand grip 9 opposite the loop. The tool may be telescopic or usable as a walking stick and may further comprise a scoop attachment (10, figure 7) or a specialised collection sachet comprising a stiffened collar or drawstring (5, figure 5). The method comprises the steps of holding the sachet underneath the animal while the animal is defecating and when the sachet is soiled, sliding a trigger (3, figure 2) in the reverse direction to close the sachet, pulling a drawstring to seal the sachet, carrying the tool, with sachet held firmly in the loop, to the bin and re-opening the loop to cause the sachet to drop into the bin.

Description

Dog Excrement Capturing Tool This invention relates to the capturing of a dog's excrement before it makes contact with the ground.

Dog excrement creates an unpleasant sight and an unhealthy environment in public areas especially on pavements and in parks.

The collection of dog excrement by hand into a bag is an unpleasant task. Additionally it is difficult for many elderly and infirm dog handlers.

The present invention proposes the use of a handle made of a tube (preferably elliptically shaped), inside one end of which is housed an extendable/retractable loop of a cable (plastic-coated metal, nylon or other material) onto which is fitted a custom-made disposable sachet. When the loop is extended, the sachet is placed onto it in an open position, ready to capture the excrement from the dog. Once used, the sachet is closed by retracting the loop, sealed with a drawstring and carried to the appropriate disposal bin on the end of the tool where it is deposited by re-extending the loop.

The handle element of the invention will exist in two distinct forms. The "telescopic" version will be made of multiple small tubes in a telescopic arrangement (as per a telescopic umbrella). The "walking-stick" version will comprise a single longer tube which will be fitted with a bespoke foot and hand grip.

Primarily, it is the use of an extendable/retractable loop for this purpose that the inventor considers to be novel. Additionally, the scoop accessory, sachet and foot, which have been specifically designed to work with the loop mechanism, are original.

It is more hygienic than any tool that collects the excrement after it has made contact with the ground, reducing the health risk to the public and an unpleasant sight.

The retractable loop and telescopic handle make the tool conveniently compact.

The loop mechanism preferably consists of few parts, making it easy to manufacture and extremely durable.

The excrement can be captured and disposed of without the user touching it or a soiled bag.

The tool remains clean throughout the process so does not require cleaning.

Preferably, the ioop is fitted with a plastic (or other material) scoop accessory to allow for the tool to be inverted to collect dog excrement from the ground for those occasions when it is not possible to catch it before it reaches the ground. The accessory would be permanently fitted to the loop.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings: -Figure 1 shows the "telescopic" version of the invention -Figure 2 shows the "walking-stick" version of the invention -Figure 3 shows the end section of the handle with the loop in an open position -Figure 4 shows the end section of the handle with the loop in a closed position -Figure 5 shows the end section of the handle with the loop in an open position and a sachet in place ready to use to capture the dog's excrement -Figure 6 shows the end section of the handle with the loop retracted after use and a closed sachet ready for disposal -Figure 7 shows the end section of the handle demonstrating the relative position of the scoop accessory when the loop is open -Figure 8 shows the end section of the handle demonstrating the relative position of the scoop accessory when the loop is closed -Figure 9 shows the cross section view of the scoop accessory demonstrating the relative position of the two blades when the loop is closed NB. Several drawings show the invention without a sachet fitted for demonstration purposes. A sachet is always used during operation of the invention.

The user of the invention manually slides trigger 3 forwards along a channel 7 in a section of the handle 1. The trigger is attached to the loop 2 inside the handle such that as the trigger is moved forwards, the loop moves forwards and is fully revealed from the end of the handle. A custom-made sachet 4, which has a stiffened collar, is seated onto the loop. The sachet covers both the loop and the scoop accessory which is fitted to the loop.

After the dog has done its excrement, the trigger is slid backwards along the handle so that the loop and sachet are closed. The user then manually pulls on the drawstring 5 to seal the sachet and carries the tool to the disposal receptacle with the sachet firmly held on the end of it. The user holds the tool over the bin and slides the trigger forward again, thus releasing the sachet and causing it to drop into the bin.

The trigger of telescopic version is more elaborate than that of the walking-stick version, such that it additionally has a plastic (or other material) sleeve 6 which surrounds the handle and which depresses the buttons 8 as it is manually moved over them to cause the handle sections to collapse as the tool is being closed after use (as per a telescopic umbrella).

The walking-stick version has a special foot 13 to prevent the closed loop from touching the ground when the tool is used as a walking-stick. This foot is shaped so as not to interfere with the operation of the scoop mechanism.

The telescopic version has a simple and compact hand grip 9. The walking-stick version has a hand grip 14, which is more suited to the needs of walking-stick users.

The scoop accessory would preferably comprise of a single piece of plastic (or other material) consisting of two blades 10 which are joined by a hinge 11. It would be attached to the loop by means of clips 12. As the loop is closed, the blades come together in a scissors-type action underneath the excrement at the same time as the sachet is closed.

Preferably the trigger mechanism of the walking-stick version will be close to the hand grip end of the tool, to facilitate its use by the elderly/infirm. A plastic (or other material) shaft inside the handle will link the trigger to the loop.

Preferably there will be a hook which is attached to the trigger mechanism (or shaft in the case of the walking-stick version) and which moves forwards and backwards inside the handle as the loop moves. If the drawstring is attached to the hook by the user, the drawstring is pulled as the loop is being closed, thus avoiding the necessity for the user to manually pull the drawstring to seal the sachet. The hook mechanism will be designed and positioned so as not to restrict the sachet from being released during disposal.

Preferably there will be a sheath (which will preferably have a belt attachment) in which to carry the telescopic version of the invention.

Optionally the loop will be manufactured with a twist in the cable causing the loop to bend upwards as it exits the handle providing a more convenient angle for the operation of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1 A dog excrement capturing tool which has a loop mechanism moveable between (a) an extended position in which the loop mechanism is able to hold a collection sachet and (b) a retracted position.
2 A dog excrement capturing tool according to claim 1 which operates from inside one end a hollow handle.
3 A dog excrement capturing tool according to claim 2 which has a hand grip at the opposite end of the handle to which the loop mechanism operates.
4 A dog excrement capturing tool according to claim 3, of which the handle is formed from three or more hollow tubes of different girths which are assembled telescopically.
A dog excrement capturing tool according to claim 3 which has a foot which is shaped to accommodate the loop mechanism in its retracted position such that the tool is able to be used as a waIking-stck when not in use as a dog excrement capturing tool.
6 A dog excrement capturing tool according to claim 4 or claim 5, which has a scoop attachment.
7 A dog excrement capturing tool according to claim 6 where two parts of the scoop attachment move relative to one another.
8 A dog excrement capturing tool according to claim 7 where the two parts are blades which are hinged together and operate in a scissors-type action.
9 A dog excrement collection sachet which has a collar of a material stiffer than the rest of the sachet such that the collar facilitates the support of the sachet in the loop mechanism of a dog excrement capturing tool.
A dog excrement collection sachet according to claim 9 which is disposable.
11 A dog excrement collection sachet according to claim 9 or claim 10 which is biodegradable.
12 A dog excrement collection sachet according to claim 9 or claim 10 or claim 11 which is shaped to fit around the scoop attachment of a dog excrement capturing tool.
13 A dog excrement capturing tool as defined in any one of claim 1 to claim 8 which operates with a dog excrement collection sachet tool as defined in any one of claim 9 to claim 12.
14 A method of collecting animal excrement using a sachet temporarily fitted to the expandable/retractable loop of an excrement capturing tool, such that the sachet is held on the end of the tool underneath the animal while the animal is defecating, the loop is retracted to close the sachet, a drawstring is pulled to seal the sachet, the sachet is carried to the place of disposal on the end of the tool and the loop is re-expanded to allow the sachet to drop.