GB2585785A

GB2585785A - A scoop

Info

Publication number: GB2585785A
Application number: GB2014389.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edmond Mcgrath Brendan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-02-13
Filing date: 2019-02-13
Publication date: 2021-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-13
Also published as: WO2019159158A2; WO2019159158A3; GB202014389D0; GB2585785B

Abstract

A scoop (1) for scooping a faeces (2) or other material from the ground into a bag (3) comprises a base (6) defining a forward edge (10) and extends rearwardly to a proximal end (8). A pair of side walls (15) extend rearwardly on respective opposite sides of the base (6) and rearwardly from the forward edge (10). A first coupler (24) adjacent the proximal end (8) of the scoop (1) is configured to releasably engage a second coupler (45) of a handle (25) for attaching the handle (25) to the scoop (1). Two pairs of receiving clips (27) are located on each side wall (15) adjacent a forward portion (19) thereof and define respective downwardly extending receiving slots (30) for receiving end engagement members (33) of a protective element (5) of cardboard material for protecting the bag (3) during scooping of a faeces from the ground. Initially, the scoop (1) is inserted into the bag (3) with the forward edge (10) thereof engaged in a closed end (70) of the bag (3). The protective element (5) is then secured to the scoop (1) on the underside of the base (6) adjacent a forward portion (19) thereof with a portion of the bag (3) located between the protective element (5) and the base (6). On the faeces (2) being scooped into the portion of the bag (3) lining a collecting portion (17) of the scoop (1), the bag (3) is removed from the scoop (1) by turning the bag inside-out during removal from the scoop (1), so that on removal from the scoop (1) the faeces (2) and the protective element (5) are located in the bag (3) for disposal with the bag (3).

Claims

1. A scoop having a distal forward edge, an upwardly facing surface extending rearwardly from the forward edge, a downwardly facing surface extending rearwardly from the forward edge, and a receiving means configured to receive and retain a protective element for protecting a portion of a bag, in which at least a portion of the scoop is inserted, from being scuffed by the ground during scooping of an article or material from the ground.

2. A scoop as claimed in Claim 1 in which the receiving means is configured to retain the protective element adjacent the forward edge.

3. A scoop as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the receiving means is configured for retaining the protective element extending forwardly beyond the forward edge.

4. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the receiving means is configured for releasably receiving and retaining the protective element therein.

5. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which a positioning means is provided for positioning the protective element in the receiving means .

6. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which a pair of receiving means are provided on respective opposite sides of the scoop for receiving and retaining the protective element extending across the scoop from one side thereof to the other.

7. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which each receiving means defines with a portion of the scoop a receiving slot for receiving the protective element.

8. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which each receiving slot extends downwardly terminating in a downwardly facing open mouth for receiving the protective element therethrough into the receiving slot.

9. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which each receiving means comprises a receiving clip secured to a corresponding portion of the scoop, the receiving clip defining with the corresponding portion of the scoop the downwardly extending receiving slot.

10. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which each receiving means comprises a pair of adjacent but spaced apart receiving clips.

11. A scoop as claimed in Claim 9 or 10 in which a rib extends downwardly along one of the receiving clip and a portion of the scoop adjacent the receiving clip, and cooperates with the other one of the receiving clip and the portion of the scoop for retaining the protective element therein.

12. A scoop as claimed in Claim 11 in which the rib extends from the scoop between an adjacent pair of the receiving clips.

13. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the scoop comprises a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from a location adjacent the forward edge on respective opposite sides of the upwardly facing surface.

14. A scoop as claimed in Claim 13 in which one of the receiving means is provided on each side wall.

15. A scoop as claimed in Claim 13 or 14 in which each side wall extends in a generally rearwardly direction towards a proximal end of the scoop.

16. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the scoop comprises a base element defining the forward edge and the upwardly facing surface and the downwardly facing surface.

17. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the scoop comprises the protective element.

18. A scoop as claimed in Claim 17 in which the protective element is releasably engageable in the receiving means.

19. A scoop as claimed in Claim 17 or 18 in which the protective element comprises an elongated protective panel extending across the downwardly facing surface of the scoop and defining with the downwardly facing surface a gap for accommodating a portion of the bag between the downwardly facing surface and the protective panel.

20. A scoop as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 19 in which the protective panel extends between a pair of spaced apart end engagement members for engaging the respective receiving means.

21. A scoop as claimed in Claim 20 in which the protective element is provided with a pair of spaced apart fold lines extending transversely relative to the protective element for defining the protective panel and the end engagement members.

22. A scoop as claimed in Claim 20 or 21 in which the end engagement members of the protective element extend at an angle of approximately 90â to the protective panel thereof.

23. A scoop as claimed in any of Claims 19 to 22 in which the protective panel defines a forwardly facing edge located forwardly of the forward edge of the scoop.

24. A scoop as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 23 in which the protective element comprises a biodegradable material.

25. A scoop as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 24 in which the protective element comprises a compostable material.

26. A scoop as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 25 in which the protective element comprises a semirigid material.

27. A scoop as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 26 in which the protective element comprises cardboard.

28. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which a coupling means for coupling the scoop to a handle is provided.

29. A scoop as claimed in Claim 28 in which the coupling means comprises a releasable coupling means.

30. A scoop as claimed in Claim 28 or 29 in which the coupling means comprises one of a pair of first and second inter-engageable complementary formations located adjacent the proximal end of the scoop for engaging the other one of the pair of first and second inter-engageable complementary formations located on the handle.

31. A scoop as claimed in Claim 30 in which the one of the first and second inter-engageable complementary formations comprises one of a T-shaped member extending from the proximal end of the scoop and a T-shaped slot formed in the proximal end of the scoop.

32. A scoop as claimed in Claim 30 or 31 in which the one of the first and second inter-engageable complementary formations of the coupling means formed adjacent the proximal end of the scoop comprises a T-shaped slot.

33. A scoop as claimed in Claim 32 in which the T-shaped slot formed adjacent the proximal end of the scoop is defined by three elongated coupling members extending rearwardly from the proximal end of the scoop, a first one and a second one of the coupling members being configured to define a leg of the T-shaped slot, and the first one and the second one of the coupling members being configured to define with a third one of the coupling members a transversely extending slot of the T-shaped slot.

34. A scoop as claimed in Claim 33 in which the transverse slot of the T-shaped slot defined by the first, second and third ones of the coupling members is of arcuate shape.

35. A scoop as claimed in any of Claims 28 to 34 in which a retaining means is provided for releasably retaining the scoop coupled to the handle.

36. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the scoop comprises a handle, releasably coupleable with the scoop by the coupling means.

37. A scoop as claimed in Claim 36 in which the handle comprises an elongated handle having a handgrip portion thereof, and the handle terminates at a distal end thereof in one of the first and second inter-engageable complementary formations for engaging the other one of the first and second inter- engageable complementary formations of the coupling means.

38. A scoop as claimed in Claim 37 in which the one of the first and second inter-engageable complementary formation of the handle extends distally from the handle.

39. A scoop as claimed in Claim 37 or 38 in which the one of the first and second inter-engageable complementary formation of the handle comprises a T-shaped member extending distally from the distal end of the handle.

40. A scoop as claimed in Claim 39 in which the T-shaped member of the handle comprises a transversely extending arcuate cross-member.

41. A scoop as claimed in Claim 39 or 40 in which the T-shaped member of the handle is secured to the handle.

42. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the scoop is configured for coupling to one of a ball throwing implement and a handle of a ball throwing implement.

43. A scoop as claimed in Claim 42 in which the coupling means is configured for coupling the scoop to the one of the ball throwing implement and the handle of the ball throwing implement.

44. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the scoop comprises the bag.

45. A scoop as claimed in Claim 44 in which the bag comprises a bio-degradable material.

46. A scoop as claimed in Claim 44 or 45 in which the bag comprises a bio-degradable polymer material.

47. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the bag comprises a compostable material.

48. A scoop as claimed in any preceding claim in which the forward edge thereof extends transversely relative to the scoop.

49. A method for scooping an article or material on the ground into a bag, the method comprising inserting a scoop into the bag with a distal forward edge of the scoop within the bag, engaging a protective element in a receiving means in the scoop with the protective element adjacent the forward edge and a portion of the bag located between the protective element and a downwardly facing surface of the scoop adjacent the forward edge thereof, engaging the article or material with the protective element engaging the ground, and urging the forward edge of the scoop under the article or material until the article or material is located on a portion of the bag adjacent an upwardly facing surface of the scoop, and removing the bag from the scoop by turning the bag inside-out as the bag is being removed, so that on removal of the bag from the scoop, the article or material and the protective element are located within the bag.

50. A method as claimed in Claim 49 in which the protective element is engaged in the receiving means with a forward portion of the protective element extending forwardly beyond the forward edge of the scoop.

51. A method as claimed in Claim 49 or 50 in which the protective element is releasably engaged in the receiving means of the scoop.

52. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 51 in which the protective element is secured to the scoop with the protective element extending across the downwardly facing surface of the scoop adjacent the forward edge thereof.

53. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 52 in which the receiving means is configured to retain the protective element adjacent the forward edge of the scoop.

54. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 53 in which the receiving means is configured for retaining the protective element extending forwardly beyond the forward edge.

55. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 54 in which a positioning means is provided for positioning the protective element in the receiving means.

56. A method as claimed in Claim 55 in which the positioning means is configured for positioning the protective element with a forwardly facing edge of the protective element located forwardly of the forward edge of the scoop.

57. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 56 in which the protective element comprises an elongated protective panel extending across the downwardly facing surface of the scoop and defining with the downwardly facing surface a gap within which the portion of the bag is located.

58. A method as claimed in Claim 57 in which the protective panel extends between a pair of end engagement members, and the end engagement members are engaged in the respective receiving means.

59. A method as claimed in Claim 58 in which the protective element is provided with a pair of spaced apart fold lines extending transversely relative to the protective element for defining the end engagement members.

60. A method as claimed in Claim 59 in which the end engagement members of the protective element are bent along the fold lines through an angle of approximately 90" relative to the protective panel prior to engaging the end engagement members in the corresponding receiving means.

61. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 60 in which the protective element comprises a biodegradable material.

62. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 61 in which the protective element comprises a compostable material.

63. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 62 in which the protective element comprises a semi-rigid material.

64. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 63 in which the protective element comprises cardboard.

65. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 64 in which the scoop is coupled to a handle by coupling the coupling means adjacent the proximal end of the scoop.

66. A method as claimed in Claim 65 in which the coupling means comprises a releasable coupling means.

67. A method as claimed in Claim 65 or 66 in which the coupling means comprises one of a pair of first and second inter-engageable complementary formations located on the scoop for engaging the other one of the pair of first and second inter-engageable complementary formations located on the handle.

68. A method as claimed in any of Claims 65 to 67 in which the scoop is retained coupled to the handle by a retaining means.

69. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 68 in which the scoop is configured for coupling to one of a ball throwing implement and a handle of a ball throwing implement.

70. A method as claimed in Claim 69 in which the coupling means is configured for coupling the scoop to the one of the ball throwing implement and the handle of the ball throwing implement.

71. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the forward edge of the scoop extends transversely relative to the scoop.

72. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 71 in which the bag comprises a bio-degradable material.

73. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 72 in which the bag comprises a bio-degradable polymer material.

74. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 73 in which the bag comprises a compostable material.

75. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 74 in which prior to inserting the scoop into the bag, the bag is turned inside-out and the scoop is inserted into the bag in the inside-out configuration, and during removal of the bag from the scoop the bag is turned from the inside-out configuration to the right- side-out configuration.

76. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 75 in which on removal of the bag from the scoop, the bag with the article or material and the protective element is closed by one of tying the bag with a ligature or tying a knot on the bag.

77. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 76 in which the article or material scooped from the ground into the bag comprises a faeces.

78. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 77 in which the article or material scooped from the ground into the bag comprises an animal faeces.

79. A method as claimed in any of Claims 49 to 78 in which the article or material scooped from the ground into the bag comprises a faeces of a dog.

80. A combination of a ball throwing implement comprising an elongated shaft terminating at a distal end thereof in a ball accommodating element extending from the shaft, and a scoop as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 48 releasably and selectively coupleable to one or both of the ball accommodating element and the shaft.

81. A combination as claimed in Claim 80 in which the ball accommodating element comprises an elongated ball accommodating channel extending between a proximal end adjacent the shaft and a distal end, the shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and the ball accommodating element extending from the distal end of the shaft.

82. A combination as claimed in Claim 81 in which the ball accommodating element is configured adjacent the distal end thereof for coupling the scoop thereto.

83. A combination as claimed in any of Claims 80 to 82 in which the ball accommodating element is curved from the proximal end thereof to the distal end along its longitudinal length.

84. A combination as claimed in any of Claims 80 to 83 in which the ball accommodating element is pivotally coupled to the shaft about a transversely extending pivot axis, and is pivotal relative to the shaft between a ball throwing state and a folded state in which the shaft is folded into the ball accommodating channel.

85. A combination as claimed in Claim 84 in which a latching means is provided for selectively releasably latching and securing the ball accommodating element in each of the ball throwing state and the folded state.