Abstract:
A pet waste catcher device has a series of handle segments forming an extendable handle. Each segment is of a larger diameter than the one (1) previous to enable the shaft to extend and retract in length. A first end of the shaft is provided with a circular ring member to retain disposable bags. A second end of the shaft is provided with a handle, having a covered compartment. A user manipulates the handle to position the circular ring with a disposable bag underneath an animal to collect waste. The covered compartment serves as a case to hold various items selectively chosen by a user.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/929,729, filed Jan. 21, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a pet waste catcher device with a ring member to retain disposable bags located at the end of a shaft, wherein the ring is manipulated by a user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The act of walking a dog or other pet is a pleasure enjoyed by many pet owners. The ability to get outside and experience nature and the surroundings is a simple joy. There are also the great health benefits associated with exercise for both the dog and the human walker. However, one (1) additional task associated with walking of a dog is the cleaning up of droppings. This act is not only the responsible thing to do, but it is the sanitary thing to do as well. To accomplish this task, one must carry a bag and a small shovel with them as the dog or pet is being walked or come back later without the pet to retrieve the droppings. In either case it is a messy, smelly situation that no one enjoys. It also requires bending over to perform the task, which many such as the elderly or disabled are incapable of doing. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which one can quickly and effectively retrieve dog or pet droppings without the mess, fuss and the requirement to bend over. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a pet waste catcher device having an extendable handle comprising a first handle segment, a second handle segment disposed within and extendable from the first handle segment, and a third handle segment disposed within and extendable from the second handle segment. The catcher has a ring assembly disposed at an end of the extendable handle that retains and holds open a disposable bag. A case for the user is also disposed on the handle of the catcher. The use of the present invention provides dog owners an effective means to clean up pet droppings during a walk in a manner which not only does not require them to bend over, but is quick, easy and effective as well. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more 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 isometric view of a pet waste catcher  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the pet waste catcher  10  depicted in a collapsed configuration in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a detail view of a holder ring assembly  50  of the pet waste catcher  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a detail view of a case assembly  70  mounted to a third handle segment  32  of the pet waste catcher  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a detail view of a hinge spring  83  incorporated into the case assembly  70  of a pet waste catcher  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view along line B-B as shown in  FIG. 2  of the case assembly  70  of the pet waste catcher  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section along line A-A as seen in  FIG. 1  of a first collet ring  23  of the pet waste catcher  10  in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the distal end of a second handle segment  30 , or of a third handle segment  40 , of the pet waste catcher  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  pet waste catcher 
               20  extendable handle assembly 
               22  first handle segment 
               23  first collet ring 
               24  first ring internal thread 
               25  first ring internal taper 
               26  knurling 
               27  second collet ring 
               28  second ring internal threading 
               29  second ring internal taper 
               30  second handle segment 
               32  second segment kerf 
               34  second segment external taper 
               36  second segment external threading 
               40  third handle segment 
               42  third segment kerf 
               44  third segment external taper 
               46  third segment external threading 
               50  ring assembly 
               52  first ring 
               53  first inner ring wall 
               54  first ring apron 
               56  first ring taper 
               62  second ring 
               64  second ring taper 
               66  bag lip 
               68  elbow 
               70  case assembly 
               71  case support 
               72  upper shell 
               73  top 
               74  upper shell side 
               75  upper shell corner 
               76  lower shell 
               77  bottom 
               78  lower shell side 
               79  lower shell corner 
               80  hinge assembly 
               81  hinge pin 
               82  hinge leaf 
               83  hinge spring 
               84  spring arm 
               85  spring arm retainer 
               86  hinge knuckle 
               87  hinge fastener 
               89  interior 
               90  latch 
               91  latch retainer 
               92  latch spring 
               93  latch hook 
               94  latch release button 
               95  latch button plate 
               96  latch release aperture 
               97  latch spring retainer 
               99  indicia 
               100  bag 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 8 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a pet waste catcher (herein referred to as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a sanitary disposal means for collecting the excrement of a pet in a disposable bag  100  retained in a ring assembly  50  located at a distal end of an extendable handle assembly  20 . A hinged case assembly  70  is provided at a proximal end of the extendable handle  20  for the temporary storage of items selectively chosen by a user. It should be noted that the size of the pets to which this apparatus  10  can be used may vary considerably, it is intended that the preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10  be produced in a range of sizes without limiting the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of the apparatus  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus includes an extendable handle assembly  20 , a ring assembly  50 , and a hinged storage case assembly  70 . The extendable handle assembly  20  is configured with a first handle segment  22 , a second handle segment  30 , and a third handle segment  40 . The handle segments  22 ,  30 , and  40  are preferably fabricated from PVC pipe of a size and schedule to achieve a sliding fit with each other. The first segment  22  fitting within the second  30 , and the second  30  fitting within the third  40 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , disposed on the distal end of the second handle segment  30  is a second segment external taper  34  and a second segment external threading  36 . The second segment external taper  34  is the result of the removal of a decreasing amount of the tube wall of approximately one inch (1 in.) of the distal end of the second handle segment  30 . The distal end of the second handle segment  30  preferably has four (4) second segment kerf  32  slots in the second segment external taper  34  which are accomplished with two (2) perpendicular saw cuts across the diameter of the second handle segment  30 . 
     The second segment external threading  36  receives and retains a first collet ring  23 . The first collet ring  23  is an annular ring, preferably constructed of a thermoplastic material, formed with a first ring internal taper  25  and a first ring internal threading  24  as seen in  FIG. 7 . The first ring internal taper  25  would preferably be the complementary form of the second segment external taper  34  disposed upon the second handle segment  30 , while the first ring internal threading  24  would be a mating thread to the second segment external threading  36 . It is understood that other materials may be used in the fabrication of the first collet ring  23  without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the first collet ring  23  is installed on the second handle segment  30  by engaging the first ring internal threads  24  with the second segment external threading  36 . Then, the proximate end of the first handle segment  22  is inserted into the distal end of the second handle segment  30 , through the first collet ring  23  to a desired depth. The further engagement of the mating threads, preferably beyond three (3) turns results in the first ring internal taper  25  coming in contact with the second segment external taper  34  on the second handle segment  30 . The further threading of the first collet ring  23  results in the deformation of the distal end of the second handle segment  30  at the taper  34  and causes a consequential narrowing of the second segment kerfs  32  to engage the outer wall of the first handle segment  22  and limiting the telescoping action between the first handle segment  22  and the second handle segment  30 . 
     Similarly, disposed on the distal end of the third handle segment  40  is a third segment external taper  44  and a third segment external threading  46 . The third segment external taper  44  is the result of the removal of a decreasing amount of the tube wall of approximately one inch (1 in.) of the distal end of the third handle segment  40 . The distal end of the third handle segment  40  preferably has four (4) third segment kerf  42  slots in the third segment external taper  44  which are accomplished with two (2) perpendicular saw cuts across the diameter of the third handle segment  40 . 
     The third segment external threading  46  receives and retains a second collet ring  27 . The second collet ring  27  is an annular ring, preferably constructed of a thermoplastic material, formed with a second ring internal taper  29  and a second ring internal threading  28  as seen in  FIG. 7 . The second ring internal taper  29  would preferably be the complementary form of the third segment external taper  44  disposed upon the third handle segment  40 , while the second ring internal threading  28  would be a mating thread to the third segment external threading  46 . It is understood that other materials may be used in the fabrication of the second collet ring  27  without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the second collet ring  27  is installed on the third handle segment  40  by engaging the second ring internal threading  28  with the third segment external threading  46 . Then, the proximate end of the second handle segment  30  is inserted into the distal end of the third handle segment  40 , through the second collet ring  27  to a desired depth. The further engagement of the mating threads preferably beyond three (3) turns would result in the second ring internal taper  29  coming in contact with the third segment external taper  44  on the third handle segment  40 . The further threading of the second collet ring  27  results in the deformation of the distal end of the third handle segment  40  and causes a consequential narrowing of the third segment kerfs  42  to engage the wall of the second handle segment  30  and limiting the telescoping action between the second handle segment  30  and the third handle segment  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an isometric view of the apparatus  10 , depicted in a collapsed or stowed configuration, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The first collet ring  23  can be loosened to allow the first handle segment  22  to telescope into the mating second handle segment  30 . The first collet ring  23  can then be tightened, in the aforementioned manner, to retain the first handle segment  22  relative to the second handle segment  30 . In a similar fashion the second collet ring  27  can be loosened to allow the second handle segment  30  to telescope into the mating third handle segment  40 . The second collet ring  27  can then be tightened to secure the second handle segment  30  relative to the third handle segment  40 . The first collet ring  23  and the second collet ring  27  are preferably configured to have a knurling  26  around the exterior surface to improve a user&#39;s grip for turning. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a detail view of the ring assembly  50  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The ring assembly  50  includes a first ring  52  and a second ring  62  which are each preferably composed of a thermoplastic material and formed in an injection molding process. Other materials and other methods of fabrication may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The first ring  52  is configured to have a portion of the first inner ring wall  53  extended to incorporate a first ring apron  54  for the purpose of attaching an elbow  68 . The elbow  68  is configured as two (2) thermoplastic cylinders of unequal length with the longitudinal axes of the cylinders disposed at approximately one hundred sixty five degrees) (165° to each other. The first ring  52  may be formed as one (1) piece with the elbow  68  or may alternately be attached to the shorter cylinder of the elbow  68  with an adhesive. The diameter of the longer cylinder of the elbow  68  is preferably slightly larger than the inside diameter of the first handle segment  22  such that a press fit is required for assembly. The inside diameter of the first ring  52  is preferably configured to be uniformly decreasing from the lower edge to the upper edge so as to form a first ring taper  56 . 
     The second ring  62  fits within the first ring  52  by a taper fit wherein the outside diameter of the second ring  62  is preferably configured to be uniformly decreasing from the lower edge to the upper edge to form a second ring taper  64  that matches the profile of the first ring taper  56 . The second ring  62  also includes a bag lip  66  disposed about its upper edge to obviate any sharp corners which may damage a collection bag  100 . In this manner a top of a disposable plastic bag  100  is brought up through the second ring  62  and folded back over the bag lip  66 , then the second ring  62  and bag  100  are inserted into the bottom of the first ring  52 , the matching first ring taper  56  and the second ring taper  64  cooperate to clamp the bag  100  between the two rings  52  and  62 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , detail views of the case assembly  70 , and  FIG. 6 , a section view along line B-B as seen in  FIG. 2 , of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The case assembly  70  is configured with an upper shell  72  and a lower shell  76  which are preferably constructed of a rigid thermoplastic as two (2) individual parts in an injection molding process, and as such may be presented in a wide variety of colors and surface finish textures. However, it is understood that other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The lower shell  76  is configured as a planar bottom  77  with a wrap-around lower shell side  78  joined along all abutting edges to incorporate four (4) preferable rounded lower shell corners  79  and formed in one (1) piece to incorporate a case support  71 . In some embodiments the bottom  77  may have contours other than a strictly planar configuration without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The case support  71  is generally cylindrical in shape melding into the lower shell  76  so as to support the lower shell  76  along a portion of the bottom  77  and a segment of the lower shell side  78 . The outside diameter of case support  71  is preferably slightly larger than the inside diameter of the third handle segment  40  such that a press fit is required for assembly of the case support  71  into the proximal end of the third handle segment  40 . The upper shell  72  is comprised of a preferably planar top  73  with a contiguous wrap-around upper shell side  74  incorporating upper shell corners  75  formed in one (1) piece. 
     Additionally, it is envisioned that some surface portions of the case assembly  70  may bear various indicia  99  which may provide script or logos based upon a user&#39;s preference and may include images such as, but not limited to, business names/logos, personal names, symbols, lines, pictures, and the like, in various colors and patterns, to further customize and personalize the apparatus  10 . 
     The upper shell  72  and the lower shell  76  are attached to opposite hinge leaves  82  of a hinge assembly  80  by means of a plurality of hinge fasteners  87 , and form an interior  89  of sufficient volume for the storage of items selected by the user. The hinge assembly  80  would preferably incorporate at least one (1) hinge spring  83  wrapped around the hinge pin  81  so as to bias the case assembly  70  in an open configuration. The hinge spring  83  would preferably be accommodated by the omission of a hinge knuckle  86  from an otherwise normally alternating pattern of hinge knuckles  86  on each hinge leaf  82 . Each hinge spring  83  would be provided with opposing spring arms  84 . The spring arms  84  are cylindrical extensions of the ends of a coiled torsion spring through which the spring force an act. The spring arms  84  are conjoined to each opposing hinge leaf  82  by means of a spring arm retainer  85 . Other embodiments of the hinge assembly  80  may require that the spring arm retainers  85  be configured in a different style; however, this should not be interpreted as a limitation factor of the apparatus  10 . 
     A latch  90  is disposed along a side of the case assembly  70  opposite from the hinge assembly  80 . The latch  90  is configured to hold the case assembly  70  closed against the forces of the hinge springs  83  and to retain any items placed within the interior  89 . A latch retainer  91  generally configured as a cube, projects from an interior edge of the upper shell side  74  so as to engage with a latch hook  93  to hold the case assembly  70  in a closed position. The latch retainer  91  may be molded into the upper shell  72  at the time of fabrication, or may be attached at a subsequent time with the use of adhesives or by an alternate method. The latch hook  93  is configured as a one-way interference device and is disposed at a first end of a latch spring  92 . The latch spring  92  is attached at a second end to the interior of the lower shell side  78  in alignment with the latch retainer  91  by means of a latch spring retainer  97 . The latch spring retainer  97  is preferably a rivet but may be any structure, or combination of structures, configured to retain the latch spring  92 . The latch spring  92  is preferably a piece of spring steel, or other such material capable of withstanding a great number of flexure cycles, provided with a coating or plating material to resist corrosion. A latch release button  94  is inserted through a latch release aperture  96  in the lower shell side  78  and placed against the latch spring  92 . The latch release button  94  is preferably a cylinder composed of a durable, rigid thermoplastic material. A latch button plate  95  is attached to the latch release button  94  on the interior  89  side of the lower shell  76  in order to retain the latch release button  94  between the latch spring  92  and the lower shell side  78 . The latch button plate  95  is preferably a square piece of a rigid thermoplastic material fitted onto the latch release button  94  and secured with an adhesive. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be configured as indicated in  FIG. 2 . The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  for the purpose of collecting pet excrement may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the apparatus  10  having a desired size and style to suit the needs of the user; removing the second ring  62  from the apparatus  10 ; placing a disposable plastic bag  100  inside of the second ring  62  with the open end oriented toward the bag lip  66 ; folding the open end of the bag  100  over the bag lip  66  to cover the second ring taper  64  completely; inserting the second ring  62 , with the folded bag  100 , into the first ring  52  until the second ring taper  64  becomes engaged in the first ring taper  56  and secures the bag  100 ; loosening the first collet ring  23 ; extending the first handle segment  22  with the attached ring assembly  50  and bag  100  from the second handle segment  30  approximately twelve inches (12 in.); tightening the first collet ring  23  to secure the relative positions of the first handle segment  22  and the second handle segment  30 ; loosening the second collet ring  27 ; extending the interlocked first handle segment  22  and the second handle segment  30  from the third handle segment  40  approximately twelve inches (12 in.); tightening the second collet ring  27  to secure the relative positions of the second handle segment  30  and the third handle segment  40 ; placing the ring assembly  50  with the open bag  100  under the pet to catch the pet&#39;s excrement; removing the second ring  62  from inside of the first ring  52  after the pet has completed the bowel movement; properly securing and disposing of the bag  100 ; reinstalling the second ring  62  back into the first ring  52 ; loosening the second collet ring  27 ; completely collapsing the interlocked first handle segment  22  and the second handle segment  30  into the third handle segment  40 ; tightening the second collet ring  27 ; loosening the first collet ring  23 ; completely collapsing the first handle segment  22  with the attached ring assembly  50  into the second handle segment  30  and tightening the first collet ring  23 . 
     The case assembly  70  may be accessed for the storage of user selected items or for the removal of previously stored items by performing the following steps: depressing the latch release button  94  to cause the upper shell  72  to pivot about the hinge pin  81  thereby exposing the interior  89  of the case assembly  70 ; removing or inserting the desired item(s); closing the case assembly  70  by pivoting the upper shell  72  about the hinge pin  81  and permitting the latch hook  93  to engage the latch retainer  91  to secure the upper shell  72  in a closed position. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or 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 various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.