Abstract:
A pet waste scoop, e.g., cat litter scoop, having a relatively large mouth opening includes body having an open end opposite a closed end and defining an interior therebetween for receiving pet waste for easy disposal thereof. A handle is integrally formed with the body and extends downwardly toward the closed end a predetermined distance such that the user may easily grasp the handle for manipulating the pet waste scoop while maintaining his or her hand a safe distance from the pet waste to be scooped. A plurality of elongate slot-shaped apertures that can be curvilinear are formed within a front surface opposite the handle for sifting the litter scooped with the pet waste scoop. The apertures are defined by a number of rounded elongate sifting bars that also can be of curvilinear construction and configured to prevent pet waste and/or litter build up within the apertures.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a pet waste scoop, e.g., cat litter scoop, and more particularly a pet litter scoop of perforate and sifting construction. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pet waste scoops that permit a user to scoop pet waste and pet litter and sift the pet litter such that it is returned to its original location such that only the pet waste is retained by the scoop are well known and there have been a number of commercially successful pet waste scoops. Exemplary pet waste scoops generally include a handle for manipulating the scoop attached to a body. The body generally defines an open end opposite a closed end. The open end generally includes a lip that extends outwardly from the body a distance greater than an opposing surface of the body. The lip is generally configured for scooping the pet waste and litter as is generally understood. The body further includes a surface having a number of slits or apertures therein. The slits and apertures are sized and spaced from one another such that when the user scoops the pet waste and surrounding litter, the pet waste is retained within the interior of the scoop defined by the body while the litter is sifted through the slits or apertures and back into its original location such as, for example, a litter box. 
     These known prior art devices suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, known pet waste scoops typically provide a gripping surface of the handle near the open end of the body. Accordingly, the user&#39;s hands may be disadvantageously positioned such that the user&#39;s hands may become soiled by the pet waste during the scooping thereof. In addition, known prior art scoops do not adequately trap large pieces of pet waste, and these large pieces of pet waste can preclude or inhibit the sifting of the litter through the slits or apertures such that it takes the user an inordinate amount of time to sift the litter and pet waste. Accordingly, oftentimes a user will have to manipulate the scoop or even the waste such that the slits or apertures are not clogged. Again, this may lead to the user having his or her hands soiled when using prior art scoops. Finally, the bars defining the slits or apertures in the body of prior known pet waste scoops are typically flat and thus retain a portion of the pet litter even after sifting. Accordingly, this retained portion of pet litter is susceptible to becoming stuck to the sifting bars and thus clogging the slits or apertures for subsequent uses, or the retained pet litter may be moved along with the scoop to another location after use and thereafter may undesirably fall from the scoop at this other location such that this other location becomes soiled with pet litter thereby requiring further clean up on the part of the user. 
     It therefore would be desirable to provide pet waste scoop that is relatively simple in construction and operation and that does not suffer from the foregoing recited disadvantages. Accordingly, a pet waste scoop having a handle advantageously positioned at a predetermined distance form an open end of the body of the scoop is desired. Further, a scoop that is configured and adapted for handling relatively large amounts of pet waste is additionally desired. In addition, a pet waste scoop that is configured such that the pet litter does not become stuck or otherwise retained within the scoop is likewise desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a pet waste scoop. The pet waste scoop includes a body that defines a closed end at a bottom thereof opposite an open end at a top thereof. The body defines an interior between the open end and closed end for receiving pet waste therein. The open end defines a relatively wide opening as compared to the closed end whereby the diameter of the interior decreases from the open end to the closed end. A handle for grasping by the user is integrally formed with the body. The handle extends from a rear wall of the body and extends from the open end toward the closed end of the body. The handle is positioned at a predetermined distance from the open end such that the user is capable of grasping the handle about a grasping portion in a manner such that the user&#39;s hand is sufficiently far from the open end so as to avoid contact with pet waste to be scooped thereby. The open end of the body defines a scooping lip that is integrally formed with the front surface and that protrudes a predetermined distance upwardly from the open end of the body. The body also includes a number of elongate apertures formed in the front surface for sifting the pet waste and surrounding waste retaining material such as, for example, pet litter or sifting sand and a substantially solid rear surface opposite the front surface. The plurality of elongate apertures are defined by a plurality of spaced apart sifting bars. The sifting bars comprise a generally rounded shape such that pet waste and litter is incapable of becoming adhered thereto and to thereby block the apertures. Rather, the rounded shape permits litter and waste to simply slide off of the sifting bars such that the apertures remain unclogged without user intervention. 
     Various other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
       Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pet waste scoop according to the present invention shown in a use position with a litter box, e.g., cat litter box, to scoop and sift fecal matter and/or excrement clumps from unused litter to return the unused litter to the litter box for use or re-use; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the pet waste scoop of  FIG. 1  showing a litter-engaging surface of the scoop; 
         FIG. 3  is a right side elevation view of the pet waste scoop of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the pet waste scoop of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view of the pet waste scoop of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the pet waste scoop of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the pet waste scoop of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and initially  FIG. 1 , a pet waste scoop  20  constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Pet waste scoop  20  includes a handle  22  extending outwardly from a scoop body  24  which includes a waste-retaining pocket  26  formed therein that includes a perforate sifting portion  28  configured to sift waste  30  from granular material  32 . Such a pet waste scoop  20  is well suited for use in sifting animal excrement  30  from granular litter  32 , e.g., cat litter, which can be received in a container  34 , such as a litter box or the like. 
     The litter box  34  has sidewalls  36 , only one of which is shown in  FIG. 1 , and a bottom wall  38  forming a container that holds granular litter  32 . Such granular litter  32  can be of excrement absorbing composition, such as a clumping litter made of granulated bentonite, e.g., calcium bentonite, quartz-bentonite mixture, or diatomaceous earth-bentonite mixture, or silica based litter, e.g., silica gel or silica crystal litter. Such a litter box  34  typically contains at least a plurality pairs of layers  40  of litter granules  42  that form clumps  44  when animal excrement is absorbed by the litter. Clumps  44  refers to clumps of fecal matter as well as litter that has absorbed animal urine and clumped together. 
     As is depicted in  FIG. 1 , a user grasps the scoop  20  by its handle  22  and moves it along an arcuate path, indicated by arrow  46 , to scoop up litter  32  and sift it to return the unused litter granules  42  to the litter box  34  while retaining clumps  44  in the scoop  20  for subsequent disposal. A waste scoop  20  constructed in accordance with the present invention more efficiently separates unused litter  32  from excrement clumps  44  so that the clumps  44  can be thrown away and the unused litter  32  returned to litter box  34 . As described in more detail below, such a scoop  20  does so in a manner that minimizes stirring up dust that can frequently occur when cleaning a litter box  34 . Such a scoop  20  preferably is of one-piece, unitary and substantially homogenous construction being constructed of a relatively lightweight and durable material, such as plastic or the like. Other suitable materials of construction include steel, e.g., stainless steel, ceramic or porcelain, a composite material, or another suitable material. 
     Scoop body  24  has a sidewall  48  open at one end defining a mouth  49  through which waste  30  and litter  32  enters during scooping and sifting. Scoop sidewall  48  can be of endless construction having a litter engaging face  50  with an outwardly extending tongue  52  terminating in a transversely extending portion  54  of a peripheral edge  56  that defines mouth  49 . Litter engaging face  50  also has an elongate perforate sifting portion  58  inboard of the tongue  52  through which unused litter passes back into container  34  during scoop operation. 
     Tongue  52  can be an imperforate margin  51  disposed outwardly of sifting portion  58 . Tongue  52  helps facilitate insertion of scoop  20  into litter  32  and can be configured with its transversely extending tongue edge  54  tapered at its leading litter contacting edge to further help facilitate insertion as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Tongue  52  can also help guide any clumps  44  and litter  32  entering scoop  20  toward sifting portion  58 . Tongue edge  54  can have a flat central region  53  and be curved at each end  55  such as shown in  FIG. 2  along a generally transverse direction to further help guide litter  32  entering the mouth  49  toward sifting portion  58 . 
     Litter engaging face  50  can be bordered by spaced apart sides  60 ,  62  of wall  48  that together with the litter engaging face  50  define a channel  64  that guides litter  32  entering mouth  49  over and along sifting portion  58  as scoop  20  is inserted into litter  32  in container  34 , scoops up litter  32 , and is raised out of the container  34 . Litter engaging face  50  and sides  60 ,  62  can be continuous and interconnected as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 4  and sifting portion  58  can extend into part of one or both sides. 
     Channel  64  is elongate and tapers in a manner that narrows the channel  64  downstream of mouth  49  helping to ensure a continuously lessening amount of litter being sifted is directed over the sifting portion  58 . To help optimize sifting, sifting portion  58  can extend from tongue  52  substantially the length of the channel  64  and channel  64  can continuously taper substantially the length of channel  64 . As shown in the drawing figures, sifting portion  58  can extend substantially the length of scoop  20  and channel  64  can continuously taper substantially the length of the scoop  20 . As a result of such a tapering channel construction, sifting efficiency is optimized by continuously directing an increasingly lessening amount of litter in the scoop  20  toward sifting portion  58  during the scooping of litter from the container and during lifting of the scoop  20  upwardly out of the container. 
     Sifting portion  58  is an elongate perforate section formed in the litter contacting face  50  of the scoop  20  that engages litter during use of the scoop  20 . Perforate sifting portion  58  is formed by at least a plurality of pairs, i.e., at least three, elongate slots  66  that extend completely through scoop body sidewall  48  defining sifting rake tines  67  therebetween interconnected by tongue  52  to impart strength and structural rigidity to sifting tines  67  ( FIG. 2 ). Each slot  66  is oriented with its longitudinal extent in the same general direction that scoop  20  is moved during scooping to expedite distribution of clumps and litter scooped up over the entire surface area of the sifting portion  58  as quickly as possible. 
     Slots  66  have a width greater than the width or diameter of a plurality of litter grains  42 . In a preferred embodiment, each slot  66  has a width that is at least a plurality of pairs, i.e., at least three, times the average width or diameter of a plurality of litter granules  42 . In one preferred embodiment, standard absorbent cat litter has an average granule width or diameter of about one millimeter with sizes varying between one-half millimeters to as great as two millimeters within typical cat litter with each slot  66  having a width of about five millimeters and can range in slot width between four and six millimeters. 
     As a result, sifting occurs even during downward movement of the scoop  20  into litter in the container. Due to more rapid occurrence of sifting and the more efficient sifting that takes place, sifting is nearly finished as the scoop  20  is being lifted or withdrawn from litter in the container  34 . By completing sifting more quickly, unused litter sifted from the clumps drops a shorter distance from the scoop  20  back into the container  34  thereby advantageously resulting in less dust production. 
     Each sifting slot  66  can be of non-straight construction such being curved or having a curved portion, such as is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . For example, each slot  66  can have a generally longitudinally extending portion at or adjacent scoop mouth  49  that can be straight thereat with a subsequently extending portion being curved. With reference to  FIG. 2 , sifting portion  58  can include a plurality of pairs of generally S-shaped slots  66   a - d  and a plurality of pairs of slots  66   e - i  that curve toward one side of the channel  64 . Such curved slot construction encourages granular litter particle movement in a direction transverse to the direction of scoop movement during scooping and sifting. Such curved slot construction also ensures granular litter entering the scoop mouth  49  and moving longitudinally relative to the scoop  20  in the scoop  20  encounters open sifting surface area of at least one slot  66  and typically at least a plurality of slots  66 . 
     Such curved litter grain or particle agitating slots  66  helps encourage flow of unused litter through slots  66  of the sifting portion  58  in a fluid-like manner increasing sifting speed. This further helps complete sifting for a given volume of matter entering the scoop  20  in a shorter amount of time. Force and effort required to sift a given amount of material is also advantageously reduced. 
     Scoop body wall  48  can be of endless construction defining a pocket  26  in the form of tubular sifting cup that can have an endwall  68  upon which the scoop  20  can be uprightly stood. Endwall  68  can include a second perforate sifting portion  70  formed therein that sifts any clumps  44  and granular litter material  32  remaining in the scoop  20  that has passed beyond the sifting slots  66  of the first sifting portion  58 . Second sifting portion  70  can by formed of a plurality of pairs of apertures  72  that can be slots that extend completely through the scoop endwall  68 . Apertures  72  can be parallel and curved, such as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Second sifting portion  70  further facilitates and expedites litter sifting. 
     Scoop body wall  48  can be configured with an imperforate portion  76  disposed between handle  22  and wall  48  thereby providing a handle shield  78  that helps prevent the hand of a person gripping the handle  22  during use of scoop  20  to come into contact with litter or excrement clumps. Handle  22  has an elongate handle grip  80  that extends generally longitudinally overlying at least a substantial part of the first sifting portion  58  when the litter engaging face  50  is engaging litter in container during scoop use. Handle grip  80  can extend generally parallel to litter engaging face  50  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Handle grip  80  can be tubular with openings  82 ,  84  at each end enabling any litter entering leading opening  82  during scooping to exit trailing opening  84  and returning to container  34 . 
     It is also to be understood that, although the foregoing description and drawings describe and illustrate in detail one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, the present disclosure will suggest many modifications and constructions as well as widely differing embodiments and applications without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention, therefore, is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.