GB2515633A

GB2515633A - Method and means for picking up dog excrement

Info

Publication number: GB2515633A
Application number: GB1407920.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter James Beaver; Yvonne Jean Beaver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-05-03
Filing date: 2014-05-06
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Also published as: GB201308009D0; GB201407920D0

Abstract

A device for use in picking up a pile of dog excrement includes a shaft 10 having a hand grip 11 at one end and a pair of relatively movable jaws 12 at the other end, with an operating member 14 for operating the jaws located adjacent the hand grip. The arrangement is such that a user of the device can engage a plastic bag (17 figure 3) having a pair of handles with the jaws, with the jaws in a spaced apart condition, and then move the device into a position in which the jaws are located on either side of the pile of dog excrement, so that operation of the operating member to move the jaws towards one another serves to pick up the pile of dog excrement. The operating member may be a pivotally or slidably mounted lever. Also included is a method of using the device. The shaft of the device may have two hook formations 16, a torch (18 figure 5) and/or a basket mounted to it.

Description

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PICKING UP DOG EXCREMENT

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method and means for picking up dog excrement.

There are many people, particularly those of more mature years, who find it difficult to bend down and pick up dog excrement.

The picking up of the dog excrement can be made more difficult if the person concerned is holding the lead for the dog in one hand while bending down to pick up the dog excrement using a bag held in the other hand.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and means for picking up dog excrement.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of picking up a pile of dog excrement, the method comprising providing a device that includes a shaft having a hand grip at one end and a pair of relatively movable jaws at the other end, with an operating member for operating the jaws located adjacent the hand grip, engaging a plastic bag having a pair of handles with the jaws, with the jaws in a spaced apart condition, moving the device into a position in which the jaws are located on either side of the pile of dog excrement, and operating the operating member to move the jaws towards one another.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for picking up a pile of dog excrement in the form of a device that includes a shaft having a hand grip at one end and a pair of relatively movable jaws at the other end, with an operating member for operating the jaws located adjacent the hand grip, the arrangement being such that a user of the device can engage a plastic bag having a pair of handles with the jaws, with the jaws in a spaced apart condition, and then move the device into a position in which the jaws are located on either side of the pile of dog excrement, so that operation of the operating member to move the jaws towards one another serves to pick up the pile of dog excrement.

The operating member is preferably in the form of a first pivotally or slidably mounted lever located adjacent the hand grip and connected by a cable to a second lever pivotally mounted adjacent the other end of the shaft.

The jaws are preferably of generally L-shape and formed of a resilient plastics material with the arrangement such that, when the shaft is disposed substantially vertically, the upright part of each L is disposed substantially vertically and the bases of the two L's extend towards one another.

The plastic bags used for picking up dog excrement typically have two handles and two hook formations are preferably mounted on the shaft so that, when it is desired to use a plastic bag, the bag can be placed over the jaws and one handle engaged with each of the hook formations.

A light may be mounted on the shaft to facilitate use of the device in adverse lighting conditions.

A basket may also, or alternatively, be mounted on the shaft for the reception of one or more used plastic bags to facilitate use of the device by a person taking two or more dogs for a walk.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the invention prior to use thereof, Figures 3 and 4 show the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 with a plastic bag in position in readiness for picking up a pile of dog excrement, Figures 5 to 8 are views corresponding to Figures 1 to 4 of a second embodiment of the invention, and Figures 9 to 12 are corresponding views of a third embodiment of the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The device shown in Figures ito 4 comprises a shaft 10 with a hand grip 11 at one end of the shaft i0 and a pair of pivotally mounted jaws 12 at the other end of the shaft 10. The shaft 10 is of such length that the user of the device can hold the device in one hand and touch the ground with the jaws i2 at the other end of the shaft 10. The jaws i2 are formed of a resilient plastics material having a strength such that they will not fracture when the user of the device leans on them or moves them into contact with the ground.

Each of the jaws 12 is of a generally L shape and the jaws 12 are positioned so that they can be moved towards one another as described below.

A loop 13 (shown in Figures 2 and 4) can be mounted on the hand grip 11 so that the user of the device can pass his or her hand through the loop 13 when grasping the hand grip ii to ensure that he or she will not inadvertently drop the device. An operating member 14 is carried by the hand grip Ii and the arrangement is such that, when the user causes sliding movement of the operating member 14, such movement results in relative pivoting movement of the jaws 12. The jaws 12 are mounted on arms 15 similar to those of a bicycle brake mechanism and the operating member 14 is connected by a cable to the arms 15 so that the required movements of the jaws 12 can be effected.

A pair of hooks 16 are mounted on the shaft 10 just above the mounting for the arms 15 and the arrangement is such that, when the user of the device wishes to pick up a pile of dog excrement, he or she will place a plastic bag 17 over the arms 14 and the jaws 12 and engage the handles of the plastic bag 17 over the hooks 16. The two jaws 12 will, when this is being carried out, be spaced the maximum possible distance from one another and the user of the device will then push the appropriate part of the plastic bag 17 between the two jaws 12.

The user of the device will then place the bag 17 over the pile of dog excrement that is to be picked up and effect sliding movement of the operating member 14 so as to move the two jaws 12 together underneath the pile of dog excrement. Then, maintaining the jaws 12 in their innermost positions, the user of the device will invert the shaft and detach the handles of the bag 17 from the hook formations 16, moving the bag handles upwardly above the level of the jaws 12 before releasing the operating member 14. The bag 17 containing the pile of dog excrement can then be removed from the device.

The embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 8 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4 but has a slightly different form of operating member 14 for moving the jaws 12 together and then holding the jaws 12 in their closed position until the device has been inverted before removing the bag 17 containing the pile of dog excrement. In addition, a torch 18 is mounted on the shaft 10 to facilitate use of the device at night.

The embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 12 includes a shaft 1OA the length of which can be altered to suit the height of the user by means of a press button 19 at the top of the shaft iDA. The device includes a hand grip 11 at the front of which there is a manually directed LED torch that is battery operated. There is an operating member 14 in the form of a lever on the handgrip 11 that operates a grab comprising a pair of jaws 12, the grab being mounted on the lower end of the shaft and being lowered for use by turning a screw fitting 20 on the side of the shaft bA. The grab is returned to its original position after use.

The grab is intended to be used with a plastic bag having two handles. The user of the device presses the lever 14 on the handle to close the grab and keep it closed. He or she then places the bag 17 onto the grab using the widest part of the bag 17, releases the lever 14 and pushes the bag 17 into the grab making sure that only the middle part of the bag 17 is pushed well into the grab. The handles of the bag 17 are then fitted over the hook formations 16 that are provided on the side of the shaft bA. The grab with part of the bag 17 inside it is then placed over the pile of dog excrement and the user then squeezes the lever 14 to close the grab and pick up the pile of dog excrement. The user then inverts the device, ensuring that the lever 14 is kept in its pressed condition to keep the grab closed until the device is fully inverted. The user then detaches the handles of the plastic bag 17 from the hook formations 16, ties them together, releases the grab and removes the bag 17 containing the pile of dog excrement.

There is an optional spring-loaded basket 21 on the side of the shaft 1 OA remote from the user where the used bag can be placed until the bag can be transferred into a bin or otherwise disposed of.

The grab does not came into direct contact with the dog excrement and can accordingly be used for picking up any other objects and the optional basket can also be used for carrying spare bags, newspapers, magazines or other small articles.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a latch mechanism is provided for holding the operating member 14 in its operated condition to ensure that, when the jaws 12 have been moved towards one another, the jaws 12 will remain in their operated condition so that the handles of the used bag 17 can be tied together and the used bag 17 carried by the jaws 17 until a suitable bin is reached.

The torch 18 can be a dual-purpose light such that it can be used as a safety flashing light when walking in the dark and as a normal torch to see what has to be picked up. The size of the jaws 12 may depend on the size of the user's dog and, for small and medium-sized dogs, may be of the order of 110 mm. but somewhat greater for large dogs.

Claims

SClaims:- 1. A method of picking up a pile of dog excrement, the method comprising providing a device that includes a shaft having a hand grip at one end and a pair of relatively movable jaws at the other end, with an operating member for operating the jaws located adjacent the hand grip, engaging a plastic bag having a pair of handles with the jaws, with the jaws in a spaced apart condition, moving the device into a position in which the jaws are located on either side of the pile of dog excrement, and operating the operating member to move the jaws towards one another.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, that includes the use of a device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
3. Means for picking up a pile of dog excrement in the form of a device that includes a shaft having a hand grip at one end and a pair of relatively movable jaws at the other end, with an operating member for operating the jaws located adjacent the hand grip, the arrangement being such that a user of the device can engage a plastic bag having a pair of handles with the jaws, with the jaws in a spaced apart condition, and then move the device into a position in which the jaws are located on either side of the pile of dog excrement, so that operation of the operating member to move the jaws towards one another serves to pick up the pile of dog excrement.
4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, in which the operating member is in the form of a first pivotally or slidably mounted lever located adjacent the hand grip and connected by a cable to a second lever pivotally mounted adjacent the other end of the shaft.
5. A device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the jaws are of generally L-shape and formed of a resilient plastics material with the arrangement such that, when the shaft is disposed substantially vertically, the upright part of each L is disposed substantially vertically and the bases of the two L's extend towards one another.
6. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, in which two hook formations are mounted on the shaft so that, when it is desired to use a plastic bag having two handles, the bag can be placed over the jaws and one handle engaged with each of the hook formations.
7. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, in which a light is mounted on the shaft to facilitate use of the device in adverse lighting conditions.
8. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7, in which a basket is mounted on the shaft for the reception of one or more used plastic bags.
9. A device for use in picking up a pile of dog excrement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.