Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to dog waste bag holder and, more specifically, to a travel waste bag holder capable of accepting roll refills. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 60/965,038 and it claims priority to that provisional&#39;s Aug. 17, 2007 filing date. The present invention incorporates subject matter of the &#39;038 application as if it is entirely rewritten herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a dog waste bag holder and, more specifically, to a travel waste bag holder capable of accepting roll refills. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many dog owners take their dogs for daily walks, but these owners cannot always anticipate when their adored pets will utilize a neighbor&#39;s yard for restroom purposes. In the past, a considerate neighbor picked up a pet&#39;s waste if it fell on another&#39;s property. Most often, this person carried a plastic grocery bag, used it to pick the waste up, tied it and carried it home to toss it in the garbage. Presently, most housing associations require all owner&#39;s pick up pet waste so that landscapers don&#39;t have to comb the yards for it before cutting grasses and so that those neighbors without pets don&#39;t become disgruntled. 
     Many cities&#39; ordinances also require that pet waste be picked up on city properties. A number of pet friendly parks similarly require waste to be picked up for a pet privilege to remain. To further encourage this gesture, a stand may be mounted to dispense plastic bags. The stand is located adjacent to garbage pails so that no inconvenience is placed upon pet owners; however, these stands are not yet universally adopted because they are only recently gaining popularity. 
     Plastic grocery bags are not the most attractive means to pick up waste for the many environmentally conscious pet owners. Finer foods grocers pack in papers or in cloths that shoppers carry, so their shoppers don&#39;t even have plastic bags to utilize. Another problem encountered by less environmentally concerned pet owners is that they typically have to pick up waste at least two times a day, the number of weekly bags of which are required for a dog outnumber the number of bags taken from the grocery. Therefore, the both are sometimes left with no means to pick up waste. 
     The present invention teaches a disposable waste bag holder that contains a roll of biodegradable bags. A dog walker can carry the present invention or it can be conveniently secured to a garage or a utility space. A search of the prior art reveals no patents that are related to the present teachings; however, the following references are considered pertinent art: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,707 teaches a disposable waste scooper that comprises an economically disposable container having a wire frame that holds a flexible bag. After the frame is dragged across a ground to scoop the waste, the cardboard device is pushed against a cover to close the 99% biodegradable bag. 
     P ET G OLD ™ Doggy Scoopbags are marketed as fresh scented, opaque colored, recycled plastic bags packed in a box. DoggieWalk Bass Co., B IO B AG ® Dog, by BIOgroupUSA, Inc. and B AGS ON  B OARD ® by The Brampton Company all market similar-type bags in boxes, wherein a pet owner pulls one waste bag from the box before walking a dog. 
     There is a long felt need for a novel and an improved means to contain waste bags and to clean up dog waste. The present waste bag holder is capable of being refilled with corresponding rolls of biodegradable bags. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved means to pick up the waste left by dogs on others&#39; properties. It is an object that the present invention provides such a means in the form of a novel waste bag holder adapted to contain a corresponding roll of bags. 
     It is an object that the waste bag holder is not a consumable product, but it is rather a refillable one so that it can be continuously used for a plurality of rolls. It is an object that because the waste bag rolls are consumable, they are therefore environmentally friendly. It is a preferred object that the holder and the roll are both environmentally friendly products. 
     It is anticipated that the foregoing object is accomplished by means of a holder preferably manufactured from a compressed, recycled cardboard. It is a further object that a means is provided to waterproof the cardboard so that it is not affected by wet weather conditions. It is envisioned that an inexpensive, disposable clear vacuum sealing or a plastic is injection molded to form over the cardboard. 
     It is an object that the present invention is light and conveniently sized so that it can be carried on a pet owner while he or she is walking a pet. It is an object that a means is provided to removeably secure the waste bag holder to a person. It is an object that such a means is an aperture comprised at a very distal end to accept a chain, a clip or another similar means. 
     Briefly described according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a waste bag holder comprises two mirrored portions that mate to form a compartment therebetween. The mirrored portions mate to essentially comprise a cylindrical shaped compartment having closed ends. A planar extension extends outwards along a length of each of the portions. A corresponding means to lockingly secure the two portions are comprised on each of their respective mating surfaces. In a closed position, a single extension forms outwards from the cylindrical shaped portion of the holder. The opposite length of the holder comprises a slot for a dispensing of disposable bags. A window is formed along and across an, entire portion of the cylindrical shaped holder section. When the window shows that the waste bag roll is near empty, the mirrored portions open to accept a biodegradable waste bag roll refill. 
     In an alternative embodiment to the present invention, a waste bag holder is similar in shape to the previously described one, except that an almost flat, dispenser section extends from the opposite length of the roll. The dispenser section extends from the holder to guide a travel of the perforated waste bags when the invention is utilized. 
     It is envisioned that the present invention will provide all of the advantages that the foregoing objects and description entail, the advantages of which are better understood with reference to the more detailed sections. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and the features of the present invention are better understood with reference to the following and mare detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of the waste bag holder according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the waste bag holder is in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the waste bag holder of  FIG. 1 , wherein the waste bag holder is in a fully opened position; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the waste bag holder of  FIG. 3 , wherein the waste bag holder is in a fully open position; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a waste bag roll that is inserted into either waste bag holder of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     A preferred embodiment of the present dog waste bag holder (“bag holder”)  10  is shown in both  FIGS. 1 and 2 . An elevational view of the bag holder is shown in  FIG. 1  in a fully closed position. The bag holder  10  essentially comprises two mirrored portions  12   a ,  12   b  that mate to form a closed cylindrical portion  14 . The cylindrical portion  14  comprises a diameter that approximates 4.5 to 5.0 centimeters; it measures a length that approximates 6.5-7.0 cm across. A planar extension  16  extends outwards along a length of the cylindrical portion  14 . The planar extension  16  is not limited to a shape having a rounded distal end, as shown in  FIG. 1 , but it may rather comprise any shape or form. The planar extension  16  comprises an aperture  18   a  at its very distal end. It is preferred that the present bag holder  10  can be removeably wrapped around the wrist of a walking person, clipped onto a belt of that person, or hung on a clothes hook in a utility, etc. The aperture  18   a  is provided as a means to secure a chain  18   b , a rope, a clip or any other similar functioning device to the bag holder  10 . 
     A corresponding means to lockingly secure  20  the two portions  12   a ,  12   b  are comprised on each of their respective extensions. It is envisioned that the locking means  20  comprise a snap-and-lock engagement, wherein a simple tug of the&#39; portions  12   a ,  12   b  opens the bag holder  10  for access to its interior. Any other similar locking means  20  may be comprised as an alternative to the snap-and-lock engagement, such as, for example, a peripheral ridge that mates with a corresponding channel, etc. 
     The opposite length of the bag holder  10  comprises a slot  22  for a dispensing of disposable bags. It is envisioned that a bottom length of the slot  22  may comprise rigid teeth to assist in a tear of bags if a roll comprises perforated bags. 
     At least one window  24  is formed along and across an entire top and/or bottom portion of the cylindrical shaped holder section  12 . The window  24  provides a person with a means to monitor the number of remaining bags available on a roll refill. When the roll empties, a refill can be placed in the cylindrical portion  12  by means of an opening of the two portions  12   a ,  12   b , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The two mirrored portions  12   a ,  12   b  are hingedly attached at the distal end of the bag roller  10  at the slot  22 . A bag holder  10  is shown in  FIG. 2  in a fully opened position. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , a living hinge  26  is formed at the slot such that the mating portions are positioned at opposing ends. As can be seen on the corresponding mating surfaces  16   a ,  16   b  (that combine to form the extension  16  shown in  FIG. 1 ), a snap  20   a  is formed on the first portion  12   a  to mate with a lock engagement  20   b  on the second portion  12   b . It is envisioned that the snap locks  20   a ,  20   b  are glued onto their respective mating surfaces  16   a ,  16   b , but they may be permanently secured to the surfaces by any means well known in the art to accomplish such a purpose. 
     A refillable roll (not shown) of biodegradable bags is placed within a compartment  28 . It is anticipated that a roll approximate a 3.6 cm diameter, such that it can snuggly fit in the compartment  28 . The first bag on a roll is placed facing the slot  22 . It is anticipated that the first bag can be slightly pulled through the slot  22  and then the mating surfaces  16   a ,  16   b  are closed along the living hinge  26 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . A bag holder alternatively comprises two portions  12   a ,  12   b  not connected at a living hinge, but rather two portions that are secured by a plurality of snap-and-lock engagements. In this embodiment, a planar dispenser portion  30  extends from a length of the cylindrical portion  12  opposite the extension  16 . A second means to lockingly engage  32  the two portions  12   a ,  12   b  is comprised on the dispenser portion  30 . A concave-shaped distal end  32  provides a slot  22  for the disposable bags to be dispensed from. 
       FIG. 4  shows a first  12   b  of the two portions that mate to close a bag holder  10 . A top view of the first portion  12   b  is shown, wherein a compartment  28  is formed like that of the preferred embodiment. A roll refill is placed in the compartment  28 , and the first bag is pulled along a mating surface that forms the dispenser extension portion  30 . The second portion  12   a  is then placed over the roll, and the snaps are pressed to engage the corresponding locks to contain the roll therein. 
       FIG. 5  shows a refill roll  32  that is placed in the compartments of the bag holders  10 . It is anticipated that the bags that comprise the rolls are biodegradable. It is further anticipated that the present invention is similarly environmentally friendly, wherein the bag holder  10  is preferably manufactured from a compressed, recycled cardboard. It is further envisioned that a means is provided to waterproof the cardboard so that dog walks in wet weather conditions do not affect it. An inexpensive, disposable clear vacuum sealing is either vacuum formed or injection molded over the cardboard. Therefore, a discarding of the present bag holder  10  with an empty roll  32  will not greatly affect the environment. 
     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
     To operate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a tug of the mirrored portions at the extension unlocks the snap engagements such that the dog waste bag holder can be opened. A biodegradable plastic waste bag refill roll is placed within the cylindrical shaped compartment with a first bag facing a slot formed at the living hinge in a center. The first perforated bag is slightly pulled through the slot and the two portions are closed upon one another and snap locked into place. To use the bags, a slight tug of a first bag will dispense one bag at a time. A window formed on the cylindrical portion, i.e., the bag roll compartment, provides a means for persons to view the number of bags remaining on the roll. 
     The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for the purposes of illustration and description. They are neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.