Abstract:
An extended pickup tool adapted to pick up pet waste or the like from a surface from a standing, upright position. The pickup tool consists of an elongated body having a trigger mechanism disposed in a handle at an upper end thereof. A pair of pickup assemblies, each having a pair of orthogonal surfaces is pivotally attached to the lower end of the elongated handle. A coupling mechanism connected to both the trigger mechanism and the pair of opposing, pivotally connected pickup elements causes the pickup elements to move towards one another. When the pair of pickup assemblies is fully closed, lower surfaces of their respective orthogonal surfaces overlap one another. A plastic bag may be positioned over the pair of pickup assemblies. When in a proper position, the pickup elements are brought together and into an overlapping relationship capturing the waste in a portion of the plastic bag.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,861 for HINGE FOR EXTENDED GRABBER TOOL, published Dec. 4, 2003 upon application by Ashok Khubani et al. and is included herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention pertains to extended pickup tools for reaching an item from a location beyond arm&#39;s reach and, more particularly, a pickup tool adapted to retrieve and retain pet waste or the like from the ground. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It has become customary for a pet owner to clean up feces deposited by his or her pet when walking the pet. A wide variety of devices and methods have been devised but none solve the problem adequately. All known devices and/or methods either require several parts or pieces and/or fail to cleanly perform the cleanup operation leaving an unsatisfactory residue of fecal material on the surface. 
         [0004]    One method used by some pet owners is to carry an empty plastic bag with them when they walk their pet. When needed, the owner bends over with the bag over their hand and attempts to retrieve the material from the ground and secure it in the bag. The bag may then be sealed and disposed of in an appropriate receptacle. This approach rarely results in complete cleanup of the pet feces and in addition, causes the pet owner to bend over to the ground to affect the cleanup. 
         [0005]    Other devices of the prior art typically suffer from one or more of these shortcomings: they require cleaning after use, are ineffective in removing pet waste, require expensive supplies for use, and/or require bending over to use. 
         [0006]    It would, therefore, be advantageous to provide a pet waste cleanup device that was simple to use, effective in its cleanup, requires no expensive supplies in its operation, and could be used by a person while in a standing, upright position. 
       DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0007]    Several devices for cleaning up pet feces or the like may be found in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,686,361 for ANIMAL WASTE HANDLING DEVICE issued Mar. 30, 2010 discloses an elongated, foldable animal waste handling device. A handle has a trigger that operates against a spring bias and is connected to a pair of pivotally disposed clamp members. Operating the trigger causes the clamp members to come together. A catch on each of the clamp members is used to retain an edge of a plastic bag. When the clamps are brought together, any animal waste is caught between the clamps and, hopefully forced into the plastic bag. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,866,717 for PORTABLE WASTE PACKAGING DEVICE issued Jan. 11, 2011 to Hector Martinez shows a device for collecting and packaging solid waste or toxic material. A first arm and a second arm are coupled with a lever, wherein at least one arm is slidably coupled with the lever. A bag may be positioned in an open position when the first arm is located distally from the second arm, and the bag may be closed by an operator manipulating the arms towards each other. The device may include a motor or a spring or springs to drive the arms towards or away from each other. A plate, a pole and a handle may be coupled with the arms. The plate may be positioned relative to the arms to stabilize the waste or toxic material for insertion into the bag. The bag may include an adhesive, paper, plastic, recycled plastic, cellulose in combination or singularity. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,109,547 for APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING ANIMAL DROPPINGS, issued Feb. 7, 2012 to Frank Miller provides a pet sanitation device having a frame, an elongated handle and an adjusting assembly. The frame includes a receiving bottom area receiving one part of a bag opening. A closing arrangement is provided for receiving another portion of the bag opening. The adjusting assembly is movably supported on the handle and includes a control member slidable along the handle and a transition element having distal and proximal ends thereof. The distal end is associated with the closing arrangement. In operation, upon slidable movement of the control member, the transition element is activated and the closing arrangement is moved within the frame to convert the bag opening from open to closed position and vice versa. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,292,339 for HANDS FREE PET WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEMS issued Oct. 23, 2012 discloses a system for picking up objects, for example, pet waste, debris, and similar noxious materials and automatically sealing those objects within a disposable liner. The liner is installed on a hand-held scooper device by an automatic applicator. The liners may also include a self-sealing feature adapted to assist in encapsulating the waste. The applicator also functions as a storage holder for the hand-held scoop. 
         [0011]    Published United States Patent Application No. 2013/0249224 for PET SHOVEL published Sep. 26, 2013 upon application by John Ng provides a shovel having an elongated handle, a shovel head and a bag mounting frame disposed between the shovel head and a distal end of the elongated handle. The frame forms an opening between the shovel head and the distal end of the elongated handle. The bag mounting frame is adapted to retain a mouth of a bag open disposed between the shovel head and the distal end of the elongated handle in the opening between the shovel head and the distal end of the elongated handle. A bag body support extends from a bottom of the elongated handle to receive a body of the bag mounted on the bag mounting frame to form a sump in an end of the bag, distal from the shovel head and the mouth of the bag. 
         [0012]    None of the patents and published patent applications, taken singly, or in any combination are seen to teach or suggest the pickup tool for pet waste or the like of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    In accordance with the present invention there is provided an extended pickup tool adapted to readily pick up pet waste or the like from a surface that is out of arm&#39;s reach while the user remains in a standing, upright position. The pickup tool consists of an elongated body having a handle containing a trigger mechanism disposed at an upper end thereof. The trigger mechanism may be operated by the user of the pickup tool. A pair of pickup assemblies, each having a pair of orthogonal elements is pivotally and oppossedly attached to the lower end of the elongated body. A coupling mechanism connected to both the trigger mechanism and the pair of opposing, pivotally connected pickup assemblies causes the pickup assemblies to move towards one another when actuated by the trigger assembly. When the pair of pickup assemblies is fully closed, lower ones of their respective orthogonal surfaces overlap one another. 
         [0014]    A plastic bag may be positioned over the pair of pickup assemblies while in an open, spaced-apart disposition. When in a proper position over the pickup assemblies, when the pickup assemblies are brought together and into an overlapping relationship, the plastic bag is disposed between the lower surfaces of the pickup assemblies and the surface from which pet waste is to be removed. Because the lower of the orthogonal surfaces is thin and flat, the plastic bag is forced under the pet waste that is securely retained by the overlapped lower surfaces of the pickup assemblies. Once captured, the plastic bag may be removed by turning the bag inside out, not unlike pulling a shirt off a torso by lifting upward on the bottom edge of the shirt. This action traps the pet waste within the plastic bag for easy, sanitary disposal. 
         [0015]    During the pet waste cleanup operation, no part of the extended pet waste cleanup tool comes in contact with the pet waste. A person affecting the cleanup never is required to make contact with the actual pet waste. 
         [0016]    It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a pet waste cleanup tool that is operable by a standing, upright user. 
         [0017]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a pet waste cleanup tool that effectively removes pet waste from a horizontal surface. 
         [0018]    It is another object of the invention to provide a pet waste cleanup tool wherein no part of the tool contacts the pet waste during the cleanup operation. 
         [0019]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a pet waste cleanup tool wherein a human operator of the tool is not required to be in contact with the pet waste. 
         [0020]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide a pet waste cleanup tool that may optionally be foldable for ease of carrying while walking a pet. 
         [0021]    It is an additional object of the invention to provide a pet waste cleanup tool that requires no supplies outside of an empty plastic bag (e.g., a grocery bag or the like). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a side perspective, schematic view of an elongated pickup tool in an open orientation in accordance with the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a side perspective, schematic view of an elongated pickup tool in an open orientation of  FIG. 1A  and showing an optional hinge; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 1  in an open orientation; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a partial side elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 1  in a closed orientation; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 1  in an open orientation with a plastic bag being installed thereupon; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 1  in an open orientation with a plastic bag completely installed and positioned thereupon; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 1  in an open orientation with a plastic bag completely installed and positioned thereupon, the tool being shown positioned to pick up animal waste; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 6  in an open orientation with a plastic bag completely installed and positioned thereupon, the tool being shown surrounding animal waste; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 7  in a closed orientation with a plastic bag completely installed and positioned thereupon, the tool being shown trapping animal waste within the plastic bag; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 6  in an open orientation with a plastic bag completely installed and positioned thereupon, the tool being shown surrounding animal waste and the plastic bag being removed therefrom; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool of  FIG. 6  in an open orientation with a plastic bag completely removed from the tool, the removed bag containing and retaining the animal waste. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0034]    The present invention provides an elongated pickup tool for picking up and encapsulating pet waste or the like while the user is in a standing, upright position. General purpose extended pickup tools are widely available in the marketplace and are believed to be well known to those of skill in the art. A typical extended pickup tool is disclosed in published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,861 for HINGE FOR EXTENDED GRABBER TOOL included herein by reference. As the novel extended tool in accordance with the invention incorporates some of these features, detailed descriptions thereof are not typically included herein. 
         [0035]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , there are shown side perspective, schematic views of the pickup tool for pet waste or the like in accordance with the invention, generally at reference number  100 . In  FIG. 1B , an optional hinge is further shown. 
         [0036]    Pickup tool  100  has an elongated, hollow body  102  divided into upper body portion  102   a  and lower body portion  102   b  by an optional hinge  104 , best seen in  FIG. 1B , disposed intermediate upper body portion  102   a  and lower body portion  102   b.  Optional hinge  104  allows pickup tool  100  to be collapsed (i.e., folded) for ease of carrying while walking a pet. It will be recognized that hinge  104  is optional and the invention is not considered limited to tools having a hinge  104 . Rather, the invention is intended to include pickup tools both including and excluding hinge  104 . 
         [0037]    Hollow, elongated body  102  typically has a rectangular cross section. However, hollow structures having other than rectangular cross sections (e.g., circular, ovulate, etc.) may be substituted. The invention is not considered limited to bodies having rectangular cross sections. 
         [0038]    A handle  106  is disposed at an upper, distal end of hollow elongated body  102 . Handle  106  houses a trigger mechanism  108 . Such handles and trigger mechanisms are believed to be well known to those of skill in the art, neither are further described or discussed herein. 
         [0039]    A pair of pickup assembles  110   a ,  110   b  are connected to elongated hollow body  102 , specifically to lower body portion  102   b  by respective flexible supports  112   a ,  112   b . Proximal ends of flexible supports  112   a ,  112   b  are fixedly attached to hollow elongated body by rivets  116 . When required, reinforcing plates  118   a ,  118   b  may be interposed between head of rivets  116 , not specifically identified, sandwiching proximal ends of flexible supports  112   a ,  112   b  between an inside surface of the reinforcing plates  118   a ,  118   b  and the surface of lower body portion  102   b  of hollow elongated body  102 . In  FIGS. 1   a  and  1 B, only reinforcing plate  118   a  is visible, reinforcing plate  118   b  being directly behind flexible support  112   a  against the surface of lower body portion  102   b . If the cross section of hollow elongated body  102  is rectangular, reinforcing plates  118   a ,  118   b  are typically flat rectangular structures. If, however, the cross section of hollow elongated body  102  is other than rectangular, reinforcing plates  118   a ,  118   b  must be shaped to conform to an outside surface of hollow elongated body  102 . 
         [0040]    Flexible supports  112   a ,  112   b  are typically thin, rectangular strips formed from spring steel or other suitable resilient material. 
         [0041]    Also attached to pickup assembles  110   a ,  110   b  are proximal ends of respective actuator links  114   a ,  114   b . Actuator links  114   a ,  114   b  typically pass through an interior region, not specifically identified of hollow elongated body  102  and their proximal ends are typically connected to trigger mechanism  108 . Like flexible supports  112   a ,  112   b , actuator links  114   a ,  114   b  are also thin, rectangular strips formed from spring steel or other suitable material. 
         [0042]    Left pickup assembly  110   a  and right pickup assembly  110   b  each consist of a flat bottom blade  120   a ,  120   b , respectively. Attached to flat bottom blades  120   a ,  120   b  are respective vertical backs  122   a ,  122   b  typically in an orthogonal arrangement. 
         [0043]    Left pickup assembly  110   a  is typically disposed facing right pickup assembly  110   b  in a mirror image arrangement 
         [0044]    Refer now also to  FIG. 2 . Actuation of trigger mechanism  108  in handle  106  pulls actuator links  114   a ,  114   b  in the direction shown by arrows  124   a ,  124   b , respectively. Upward motion of actuator links  114   a ,  114   b  causes left pickup assembly  110   a  to pivot (i.e., move inwardly) towards right pickup assembly  110   b . The attachment angles, not specifically identified, of pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  to respective flexible supports  112   a ,  112   b  are selected to ensure that as left pickup  110   a  assembly pivots towards and meets right pickup assembly  110   b  in response to actuation of trigger assembly, respective flat bottom blades  120   a ,  120   b  are both approximately parallel to a horizontal surface, not shown, assumed to be orthogonal to a major axis of elongated hollow body  102 . A slight offset in the mounting of flexible links  112   a ,  112   b  allows one of flat bottom blades  120   a ,  120   b  to slide over the other of flat bottom blades  120   a ,  120   b . The purpose of the design of pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b , the mounting angles thereof, and the provision for a first of flat bottom blades  120   a ,  120   b  to overlap a second of flat bottom blades  120   a ,  120   b  are discussed in more detail hereinbelow. The overlapped flat bottom blades  120   a ,  120   b  may be seen in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0045]    The operation of the novel extended pickup tool for pet waste or the like is now described and illustrated. Referring now also to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a partial front elevational, schematic view of the elongated pickup tool  100  of  FIG. 1  in an open orientation with a flexible bag, typically a thin plastic bag  130  being installed thereupon. The bottom  132  of plastic bag  130  is inserted in the space, not specifically identified, between pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b , with the top  134  of plastic bag  130  hanging below the lower edges, not specifically identified of pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b . Plastic bag  130  forms no part of the invention and is shown merely to clarify the operation on the novel elongated pickup tool. 
         [0046]    Once bottom  132  is in place, the bag is pulled up in the direction shown by arrows  136 , essentially being turned inside out until the plastic bag  130  is installed over pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  as shown in  FIG. 5 . As may readily be seen in  FIG. 5 , plastic bag  130  contains an indented, open space  138  between pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b.    
         [0047]    Referring now aso to  FIG. 6 , extended pickup tool has been moved to the pet waste or other material  140  to be picked up and the indented open space  138  is positioned directly over waste  140 . 
         [0048]    Extended pickup tool  100  is then moved downwardly as indicated by arrows  142  until the lower surfaces, not specifically identified, of flat bottom blades  120   a ,  120   b  is positioned against the surface, not shown, upon which waste  140  is disposed. Once in position, trigger mechanism  108  is used to move left and right pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  towards one another until left pickup assembly  110   a  is under right pickup assembly  110   b . It will be noted that the pickup tool  100  for pet waste or the like may be designed so that either left pickup assembly  110   a  or right pickup assembly  110   b  may be the lower one of pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  when the pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  are brought together to form a closed configuration. Consequently, the invention is not considered limited to a configuration where either right pickup assembly  110   a  or left pickup assembly  110   b  is lower. Rather, the invention is intended to include either possible configuration. 
         [0049]    Referring now also to  FIG. 8 , it may be seen that pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  have been moved under waste  140  with a layer of plastic bag  130  between pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  and waste  140 . Bag  130  is now pulled downward in a direction indicated by arrows  144  while pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  are held in a closed orientation by maintaining pressure on trigger assembly  108 . 
         [0050]    Referring now also to  FIG. 9 , it may be seen that top  132  of plastic bag  130  is hanging under pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b  with waste  140  completely contained in what was originally identified as indented region  138  of plastic bag  130 . 
         [0051]    Referring now also to  FIG. 10 , a hand  146  of a user of the extended pickup tool  100  grasps the plastic bag below pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b , presumably twists the down hanging portion of bag  130 , and releases the pressure on trigger assembly  108  thereby opening pickup assemblies  110   a ,  110   b . Bag  130  might be knotted or sealed with a twist tie, etc., none shown. Plastic bag  130  containing waste  140  may now be discarded in an appropriate manner. Hand  146  forms no part of the present invention. 
         [0052]    Never does the hand  146  or, for that matter, any other part of the user, not shown, come in contact with waste  140  during the use of the novel pickup tool  100 . Neither does any part of pickup tool  100  come in contact with waste  140 . 
         [0053]    Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
         [0054]    Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.