Patent ID: 6196601
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
A pet waste retriever, comprising:a hollow, funnel-shaped body, said body extending 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;a shaft having a first end and an opposite second end, said shaft extending along axis A--A from said first end of said body into the interior of the second, truncated conical portion of said body;a handle attached to the first end of the shaft;a rib assembly, includingan annular ring mounted for sliding movement on the shaft between the handle and the second end thereof;a plurality of ribs having first ends pivotally attached to the ring at circumferentially spaced-apart intervals thereon, each rib extending from said ring in a direction that diverges from axis A--A and away from the handle toward an opposite, second, distal end; andspreader 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;a jaw assembly, includinga pair of jaws oppositely and symmetrically disposed about axis A--A and attached to the distal ends of the ribs of said rib assembly for slidable movement within the truncated conical portion of the body between a first, axially and radially retracted, position and a second, axially and radially, extended position, each of said jaws comprising substantially one-half of a hollow, truncated cone; anda pair of flexible walls oppositely and symmetrically disposed about the axis A--A, said walls extending between and joining adjacent portions of said jaws.