Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Article held by receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-29
2001-07-10
Vidovich, Gregory M. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Article held by receiver
C224S148500, C224S245000, C224S575000, C224S584000, C224S681000, C224S682000, C119S795000, C383S038000, C383S040000, C190S109000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257473
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to animal waste collection and more particularly provides an improved sanitary animal waste collection pouch which is compartmentalized expandable, adjustably closable and capable of being carried either by the pet owner, the pet leash or by the pet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The art is replete with apparatus for retrieving and collecting animal waste, particularly fecal matter, deposited by a domestic animal traveling with its owner along the public way, i.e. sidewalks, park trails, public and private lawns, school-yards and public and private urban areas. Many cities and municipalities have enacted laws requiring domestic animal owners to restrain their pet animals particularly dogs, by having them attached to a leash, and, as well, to retrieve their fecal deposits. The pet owner is required to “cleanup” after their dogs so as to prevent others from stepping in or on the waste, and to inhibit the health risk associated with its presence.
In the past, these laws were seldom observed, such laws being difficult to enforce. However, recently, enforcement of these laws have increased with fines and public ridicule becoming common penalties for failure on the part or pet owners to observe such public nuisance abating laws. Public campaigns have become commonplace to alert and to force pet pet owners to pickup such fecal deposits left by domestic dogs.
The prior art has provided an array of apparatus for use in aiding pet owners with the odious and generally unpleasant task involved in collecting dog feces left by their pets. So called “pooper-scoopers”, a newspaper, tissue and plastic litter bags have become a plastic litter bags have become a necessary accompaniment to the dog owner walking his or her dog. Not only are the tasks difficult, odious, etc., the apparatus available for such use often are ungainly to carry and to use.
Some of these devices provide containers having detachable lids so that the feces deposit is scooped manually from the site of deposit and placed in the container. The lids of such container are reattached to such container. These containers often are too bulky to carry while walking the dog.
In picking up after their dogs, not only have the dog owners experienced direct “hands-on” risk of getting the excrement on his or her hands when scooping up the deposit from its location and/or transporting and delivering the retrieved deposit to a sanitary depository facility. Further, the implements used to retrieve the deposit as well as well as the container for such deposit are not easily cleaned after use. In addition, carrying the retrieved deposit until a suitable depositary facility is reached, such as a refuse or garbage container or the like, is reached, can be a serious problem. Further, pet owners often must carry a box carrying a supply of fresh plastic bags from which to select one fresh bag to lift the fecal deposit from its site of deposit and tie or otherwise secure the bag leakage or breaking, in the course of such steps, getting their person or belongings soiled.
Pet owners have been forced to carry along a newspaper from which to tear off a portion for retrieving the fecal deposit and carry the deposit wrap in such a paper portion a garbage or other refuse container, occasionally an open container, occasionally an open wire paper refuse container, which may be some distance from the site of the pickup. As can be anticipated, notwithstanding nuisance abating statutes and the health risk associated with the presence of such fecal deposits, leaving dog excrement deposits unattended in public parks and other urban areas still remain prevalent.
Under present municipal statutes, the pet owner couples a dog to a leash when exercising the dog for example, walking the dog along the public way or through a park, for example. Often, the dog owner takes his or her dog for a walk along a street or in a park to fulfill his obligation to enable the dog to exercise, as well as to perform its eliminatory duty exterior of the dog's living quarters. Often, on these occasions, the dog owner takes his or her dog for a walk along a street or park to fulfill his obligation to enable the dog to exercise as well as to perform its eliminatory duty exterior of the dog's living quarters. Often, on these occasions, the dog owner remembers, only long after the walk has started, that he or she failed to take along any convenient means required to clean up any deposit made by the dog in the course of its out-of-door exercise. Such even creates an unwelcome problem for the dog owner. Compliance with legal standards require the dog owner to return to his start location, pickup the necessary litter bags, tissues, etc., and return to the place of the dog's deposit. There a need to provide a convenient “take-along” package containing disposal litter bags, pads, waste collecting means, etc., and, as well, waste storage means to collect and temporarily store the retrieved dog waste until an adequate disposal station is reached. Thus, the fecal deposit may be required to be carried through the remainder of the outing, generally within the disposal litter bag used to pickup the deposit.
The prior art has suggested an array of apparatus for aiding pet owners with the unpleasant task of collecting the feces deposit(s) left behind by their pets but these are difficult to carry and not easily employed without risking getting the fecal material on his or her hands or apparel. One prior art device incorporates a collapsible frame operative for supporting a bag in open condition and further includes a paddle or like means to engage the deposit and transfer the deposit into the bag. However, although such paddle must be cleaned immediately after transfer, there is usually no provision for the cleaning task on site, since means for effecting the cleaning task often do not accompany the device. If a cleaning cloth is present, it must be carried by the pet owner and discarded with the fecal material not removed therefrom. One major factor that discourages the pet owner from picking up after the pet is the fear of getting his or her hands dirty in the course of such activity and in the absence of any convenient means means for performing such act.
There are kit-type animal waste collection means including a box having a plurality of contents for aiding a user in collecting and disposing of the pet excrement. Such contents include an absorbent material, a disinfectant, a scoop for picking up the deposit and a scraper for scraping the fecal matter from the surface upon which the fecal material is deposited, a supply of plastic litter bags for containing the retrieved fecal deposit and, of course, a compartment for receiving the fecal-loaded plastic bags. Cleaning and storing of the scoop and/or the absorbent bags. Cleaning and storing of the scoop and/or the material still remains a material problem. Such kits are somewhat heavy and cumbersome to carry, use and transport. Use of such kits also require gloves, towels, handiwipes and the like to be stored and periodically replaced, increasing the cost of the kit.
Where provided, use of a paddle may not be efficient for picking up the deposit or guiding the deposit into the plastic or paper bag in challenging deposits made in irregular terrain or deep grass, for example. This can be frustrating to the pet owner, occasionally causing the user to simply leave the deposit site without picking up the deposit. There remains an absence of carrier means which provide for efficient transport and storage of the fecal matter to a disposal facility subsequent to collection thereof. Another problem for which an adequate solution is not provided involves the prevention of leakage from waste collecting means or temporary holder into which the retrieved fecal matter is deposited on-site.
Of the prior patented art dealing with the problem concerned here, several patents of interest have been considered as indicating the state of the art as to efforts to facilitate handling of the collection of p
Fox Sidney N.
Vidovich Gregory M.
LandOfFree
Sanitary collection holder for animal waste does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sanitary collection holder for animal waste, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sanitary collection holder for animal waste will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2528474