GB2526920A

GB2526920A - Debris collecting device

Info

Publication number: GB2526920A
Application number: GB1506471.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Cook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-25
Filing date: 2015-04-16
Publication date: 2015-12-09
Also published as: GB201506471D0; GB201407300D0

Abstract

The collector 2, primarily for removing animal waste, features a retainer 16, actuator 8 and a frame 12 with a paddle 4 for scooping excrement into a container 20 that may be held by the retaining part. The container may be a selectively connectable bag that is held open when connected to the device by the periphery of its opening 14 or handles 24. The paddle may be mounted on a member 6 that may be pivotally connected to the frame. The paddle and member may have two spaced pivoting connections 10, such that they are pivotally movable with respect to the container. The paddle may be urged to an open position by a spring 22, and can be moved to a collecting position against this bias, wherein the paddle blade is then partially positioned in the container opening. Also claimed are a method of manufacture and use.

Description

I

Debris Collecting Device The invention to which this application relates is a debris collecting device of a type which can be used to collect debris from a surface efficiently while, at the same time, avoid the need for the user to come into direct contact with the debris. In particular, although not necessarily exclusively, the invention is for use in the collection of animal debris, such as faeces, and which allows the same to be collected into a bag or other container for removal and discarding at an appropriate location.

The occurrence of uncollected faeces animals such as dogss a common problem and can cause potential health problems as well as general unsightliness in public areas, public footpaths, gardens and lawns.

The owners of pets in general, are coming under increasing pressure to ensure that any faeces which is deposited by their animal is collected at that location and then carried to an acceptable point for discarding such as, for example, a collection bin. If the owners of the animals do not perform this task then there is a risk that they will be fined and/or other pressure will be applied to them. The conventional manner in which the faeces is collected is for the user to carry a plastic bag and to put their hand into the bag to collect faeces on the other side of the bag wall and then turn the bag inside out. This process in itself can be unattractive to the owner to such an extent that they may not wish to perform the task. There is also a risk that the owner will come into direct contact with the faeces, which is

unacceptable.

It is also known to provide devices to allow the collection of faeces but said devices typically comprise a handle portion which can be mounted on an elongate member, similar to a broom handle, and at the opposing end there is provided a scoop. The scoop can be activated between an open and a collecting position and when in the collecting position, the faeces can be held in the device and the device moved to a location for discarding the faeces. However, it is found that these conventional devices are not entirely efficient in collecting all of the faeces and it is difficult to cnsure that the faeces is retained within the device whilst it is being moved to the position for discarding.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a device which is suitable for use in the collection of debris and also ensures that the debris is moved to a location via the device which allows the same to be moved more easily for discarding at the location.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for the collection of material from a surface, said device including a paddle member mounted in a pivotal manner on a frame, an actuating member located to cause the paddle member to be moved between an open position and a collecting position and wherein the device further includes means for retaining a container or containing means on the device such that material collected by movement of the paddle to the collecting position, can be deposited into the container or containing means.

In one embodiment, the container or containing means is selectively releasable and engagable with the device. This therefore allows the container or containing means, to be held on the device during the collection of the material so as to ensure that the material is deposited into the container or containing means and the container or containing means can subsequently be removed from the retaining means to allow the container or containing means, and the material collected therein, to be taken to a location for discarding.

In one embodiment, the container or containing means, is a bag and the periphery of the opening of the bag and/or handles provided on the bag are located on the device in a manner so as to ensure that the opening into the bag is held open whilst the device is in use, thereby allowing the collected material to be moved into the bag through the opening.

Typically, the paddle is mounted on a member which is connected to a frame of the device via at least one pivot connection.

In one embodiment, two spaced pivot connections are provided such that the paddle, and the member connected thereto, can be pivotally moved with regard to the bag/frame between an open position and a collecting position.

Typically, the face of the paddle which contacts the material is shaped such as to act as a scoop for the material to be collected from a surface.

In one embodiment, in the collecting position, the paddle is at least partially positioned within the opening into the container or containing means so as to ensure that the material which has been collected is moved into the container or containing means.

In one embodiment, the paddle and member connected thereto are biased towards an open position such that the user, when moving the paddle towards the collecting position, acts against the biasing means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a device for the collection of material from a surface, said device including: mounting a paddle member in a pivotal manner on a frame; locating an actuating member to cause the paddle member to be moved between an open position and a collecting position, and wherein the device further includes means for retaining a container or containing means on the device such that material collected by movement of the paddle to the collecting position is deposited into the container or containing means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for the collection of material from a surface, the method including the steps of: bringing a device as described above, in an open position, to the location of the material to be collected; attaching a container or containing means to the device, positioning the container or containing means on one side of the material and a paddle member of the device on the opposing side of the material; gripping an actuating member of the device and moving it to an actuated position, thereby moving the paddle member towards the container or containing means, and collecting the material en route and depositing the material within the container or containing means.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying figures; wherein Figure 1 illustrates an elevation of a device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention with the paddle in an open position.

Figure 2 illustrates a side perspective elevation of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates an elevation of the device with the paddle in a collecting position.

Figure 4 illustrates the device of figures 1 -3, with the container or containing means provided thereon.

Referring now to the figures, there is illustrated a device (2) in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The device comprises, in this embodiment, a paddle (4) which is connected to a member (6) which is pivotally mounted to a further member (8), via pivot connection (10) and hence is moveable with regard to a frame (12) of the device. Thc frame, in this embodiment, comprises a portion which defines an aperture (14) and includes retaining means (16) on which a container or containing means, in this case, in the form of a bag (20), is located: Also provided, is a biasing means in the form of a spring (22) which biases the paddle and members connected thereto, to an open position which is shown in Figures 1 and 4. The bag (20) has handle portions (24) which are located on the retaining means (16). The bag then passes from the locating means, through the aperture 14 so as to be in an open form in order to collect material to be deposited therein from the paddle 4.

In use therefore the device is typically biased to the open position shown in Figures 1 and 4. When it is desired to use the device to collect material, such as animal faeces, off a surface such as a path or lawn, the device is brought to the location of the material with thc bag located at one side of the material and the paddle located at the opposing side of the material. The activating handle member 8 is then gripped and moved by the user's hand as indicated by arrow 26 in Figure 1 with respect to the frame 12 and so the member 8 pivot 10 and member 6 move against the biasing means 22 and move the paddle 4 in a pivotal manner towards the bag with the movement as indicated by the arrow 28 in Figure 1, This serves to collect the material on the paddle and move the same towards the opening into the bag and the paddle is inoveable towards the aperture to such an extent that the material has to move into the bag and is therefore retained therein.

At that time, the device may be further used to collect further material at other locations and move that material also into the bag until it is desired to remove the bag and at which point the handles are removed from the retaining means 16 and the handles can be used to seal the bag and as these handle portions will not have come into contact with the collected material the bag can be gripped via the handle and then moved by the person to the location at which the material is to be discarded.

Claims

CLATMS1. A device for the collection of material from a surface, said device including: a paddle member mounted in a pivotal manner on a frame; an actuating member located to cause the paddle member to be moved between an open position and a collecting position, and wherein the device further includes means for retaining a container or containing means on the device such that material collected by movement of the paddle to the collecting position is deposited into the container or containing means.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container or containing means is selectively releasable and engageable with the device.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container or containing means is a bag and the periphery of the opening of bag and/or handles provided on the bag are located on the device ensuring that an opening into the bag is held open whilst the device is in use.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the paddle member is mounted on a member which is connected to a frame of the device.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the paddle member and the member connected thereto are connected to the frame of the device via at least one pivot connection.
6. The device according to claim 4, whcrein two spaced pivot connections are provided such that the paddle member, and the member connected thereto, are pivotally movable with regard to the container or containing means between an open position and a collecting position.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the face of the paddle member which contacts the material is shaped such as to act as a scoop for the material to be collectcd, 8, The device according to claim 1, wherein in the collecting position, the paddle member is at least partially positioned within the opening into the container or containing means so as to ensure that the material which has been collected is moved into the container or containing means.9. The device according to claim 4, wherein the paddle member and member connected thereto are biased towards an open position such that the user, when moving the paddle towards the collecting position, acts against the biasing means.10. A method of manufacturing a device for the collection of material from a surface, said device including: mounting a paddle member in a pivotal manner on a frame; locating an actuating member to cause the paddle member to be moved between an open position and a collecting position, and wherein the device further includes means for retaining a container or containing means on the device such that material collected by movement of the paddle to the collecting position is deposited into the container or containing means.11. A method for the collection of material from a surface, the method including the steps of: bringing a device as described above, in an open position, to the location of the material to be collected; attaching a container or containing means to the device, positioning the container or containing means on one side of the material and a paddle member of the device on the opposing side of the material; gripping an actuating member of the device and moving it to an actuated position, thereby moving the paddle member towards the container or containing means, and collecting the material en route and depositing the material within the container or containing means.