Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Sanitary handler for pet droppings – Pole mounted
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-07
2001-03-06
Cherry, Johnny D. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Sanitary handler for pet droppings
Pole mounted
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196601
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY APPROVED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices and methods for picking up solid wastes of dogs and other kinds of pets, and, more particularly, to manual devices for grasping and enclosing pet waste within a disposable bag.
2. Background Art
City and town ordinances commonly require that pet owners remove solid wastes deposited by their pets in public places. In addition to being unpleasant, the task can be especially cumbersome for a pet owner who tries to control a pet restrained by a leash held in one hand, while simultaneously attempting to retrieve the pet waste with the opposite hand. Prior to my invention, manual devices capable of retrieving and bagging pet solid waste were known and were capable of making the task somewhat less unpleasant. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,319 to Kohler; U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,111 to Crooks; U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,816 to Tobias; U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,691 to Liu; U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,838 to Nadratowsky; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,525 to Jones. But, to simplify the task and make it less cumbersome, what is needed is a device that can be held and operated with one hand only, and that will grasp solid pet waste and enclose it within a disposable bag—all with only a single, quick, downward motion of that same hand—thereby freeing up the other hand for restraining the pet, if need be. The present invention fulfills that need by providing a device with a pair of jaws within a truncated, conical body and a disposable bag mountable between the jaws, such that, with the jaws spaced apart and extended outward from the body, a single movement of the device downward onto pet waste causes the body to slide over the jaws and the jaws to close around the bag, thereby entrapping the waste within the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,952 to Clapper disclosed a device having a pair of jaws or scoop members made of outwardly-biased, springy material, and carried on the distal end of an elongated shaft. The scoop members were placed within a hollow sleeve, having a pair of opposed side walls, and open at both ends. In use, the scoop members were advanced out of the lower end of the sleeve and permitted to move apart, a bag was placed over the scoop members, and the scoop members and bag were placed over solid pet waste. With the handle in one hand, the opposite hand moved the sleeve downward over the scoop members, thereby turning the bag inside-out and closing the bag around the waste. To eject and discard the bag, the scoop members were again advanced outside of the sleeve and the bag removed from the scoop members. Thus, the simultaneous use of both hands was required to use Clapper's device.
The present invention incorporates a rib assembly for attaching the jaws to the body that is slidable within the body between an extended and a retracted position. The rib assembly includes a collar mounted for sliding movement on an axial shaft that carries a handle at one end. A plurality of ribs, similar to umbrella ribs, are pivotally attached to the collar and extend away from the handle to the jaws, such that movement of the collar away from the handle permits the ribs and jaws to spread apart, whereas, retraction of the collar back toward the handle corresponds to the jaws clamping shut. U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,169 to DeToma disclosed a device having an elongated shaft, comprised of two telescopically slidable members—an outer member surrounding an inner member that carried a handle at one end—that actuated a mechanical hand similar to the assembly of umbrella ribs. The mechanical hand was composed of a spider-like array of thread-like fingers that were resiliently flexible and which diverged from the distal end of the internal member of the shaft. In use, a baglike, disposable container was placed over distal ends of the ribs, the mechanical hand with attached container was placed over solid pet waste, and, holding the outer member stationary with one hand, the inner member was pushed toward the waste by the opposite hand's pressing downward on the handle to force the hand and bag to close about and envelope the waste. Thus, DeToma's device also required the simultaneous use of both hands.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, there remains a need for a portable pet waste retriever that can gather up solid pet waste into a disposable bag and that requires only one hand to operate. Such a retriever is provided, comprising a hollow, funnel-shaped body that houses a shaft, a rib assembly mounted on the shaft, and a jaw assembly attached to the rib assembly. The body extends axially along an axis A—A from a first, open end having a first, relatively small diameter, to a second, open end having a second, relatively large diameter, thereby defining a first, substantially cylindrical portion and a second, truncated conical portion. The shaft has a first end and an opposite, second end, and extends along axis A—A from the first end of the body into the interior of the second, truncated, conical portion of the body. A handle is attached to the first end of the shaft.
The rib assembly includes an annular ring mounted for sliding movement on the shaft between the handle and the second end thereof. A plurality of ribs is provided. The ribs have first ends pivotally attached to the ring at circumferentially spaced-apart intervals thereon. Each rib extends from the ring in a direction that diverges from axis A—A and away from the handle toward an opposite, second, distal end. The rib assembly further includes spreader means mounted on the shaft between the handle and the ring for urging the first ends of the ribs axially away from the handle and for spreading the distal ends of the ribs radially outward from the axis A—A.
The jaw assembly includes a pair of jaws oppositely disposed about axis A—A and attached to the distal ends of the ribs. The jaws are slidable between a first, axially and radially retracted position and a second, axially and radially, extended position. Each of the jaws comprises substantially one-half of a hollow, truncated cone. The jaw assembly further includes a pair of oppositely-disposed, flexible walls that extend between and join adjacent portions of the jaws. The walls may be of cloth, such as that used in umbrellas. The jaws preferably include a pair of oppositely-disposed and oppositely-directed, substantially semicircular disks, each disk being attached to a distal end of a jaw. To prevent rotation of the jaw assembly with respect to the body, each of the jaws has an axially extended slot, the body has a pair of oppositely-disposed openings in registry with the slots, and a pin is inserted through the openings and through the slots.
The spreader means preferably includes a collar slidably mounted on the shaft between the handle and the ring. The collar has a first end and an opposite, second, distal end. For each rib, a strut is provided having a first end pivotally attached to the collar and an opposite, second end pivotally attached to an intermediate portion of the rib. A spring is interposed between the collar and the ring for urging the ring axially away from the collar. Manual means is provided for reversibly locking the jaw assembly in the retracted position. For this purpose, the collar has an aperture, and the manual means includes a spring-biased, manually depressible tab pivotally attached to the first end of the shaft and disposed for reversible insertion into, and withdrawal from, the aperture.
Disposable bags for use with the retriever are also provided. Each bag is of suitable size and shape to extend across and cover the jaws when the jaw assembly is in its extended, jaws-spread-apart, position. Preferably, the bags are made of biodegradable material. To ready the retriever for use, the tab is depressed out of the aperture, thereby permitting the spreader means to cause the collar, ribs and jaws to spring forward and spread apart; a disposable bag is installed on the jaws,
Cherry Johnny D.
Coyne Brian J.
LandOfFree
Pet waste retriever does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pet waste retriever, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pet waste retriever will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2476803