Retainer apparatus

The present invention provides methods and systems for a retainer apparatus that includes a scoop having an exterior surface and an interior surface with a central opening and a predetermined length. A retention device has a base with a length greater than the length of the central opening of the scoop and a flange portion extends upwardly from the base portion and contains at least one opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a retainer apparatus, and more generally relates to a retainer apparatus having a scoop and a retention device for retaining an object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people desire to take their dogs to the beach, and most beaches have leash laws requiring dogs to always be leashed. When the individual desires to relax in their chair or lay on a towel, it is not convenient to always retain an end of the leash in the hand. Therefore, the individual will engage the leash to a chair, an umbrella, or a spike with a swivel hook on the end. Unfortunately, a chair, umbrella, or spike are not suitable for securely retaining the dog at the desired location. It is very easy for the dog to create tension in the leash, thus moving the chair or pulling the umbrella or spike out of the ground.

When the dog is not retained on the leash, the dog is likely to chase other dogs, birds, or people on the beach. This is unlawful and not safe for the dog. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dog leash that is retained within the sand on a beach, even if the dog pulls tightly on its leash, and is easy and convenient to install.

Additionally, the user may wish to efficiently and effectively hold an item, such as an umbrella, canopy, cooler, and the like in the sand, dirt, rock, ice or other substance. It is an object of the present invention to allow a user to efficiently and effective retain these items with the use of the retainer apparatus as fully described herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a retainer apparatus includes a scoop and a retention device with the scoop having an exterior surface and an interior surface with a central opening having a predetermined length. A retention device has a base with a length greater than the length of the central opening of the scoop and a flange portion extends upwardly from the base portion and contains at least one opening.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus contains a scoop that is generally circularly shaped.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus has a scoop that is concave.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus includes a retention device with a base and a flange.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus includes a flange with two openings.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus includes a scoop and retention device composed of metal, plastic and/or wood.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus includes a scoop that is generally oval shaped.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus includes a flange that has a first end and a second end, the first end of the flange is engaged to the base and the width of the flange gradually decreases from the first end to the second end.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus includes a scoop composed of a different material than the retention device.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus includes a generally concave scoop having an exterior surface and an interior surface with a central opening and a predetermined length. The apparatus has a retention device having a base with a length greater than the length of the central opening of the scoop and a flange portion that extends upwardly from the base portion and contains at least one opening.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer apparatus includes a generally concave scoop having an exterior surface and an interior surface with a central opening and a predetermined length. The retention device has a base with a length greater than the length of the central opening of the scoop and a flange portion that extends upwardly from the base portion and contains two openings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now specifically to the drawings, a retainer apparatus is illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9and is shown generally at reference numeral10. The retainer apparatus10consists of a scoop12and a retention device14. The scoop12is generally circular having a top side and a bottom side. The top side is concave and shaped generally like a bowl, as shown inFIG. 3. The bottom side is a reverse of the top side and generally convex shaped. On the top side, the scoop12contains a base that extends outwardly and upwardly to an outer edge16, as shown inFIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

An opening18is formed within the scoop12and preferably within the center of the scoop12. The opening18has a top side to a bottom side on either side of the opening18. As illustrated, the opening18is elongated and extends from a first end to a second end. The first end and the second end of the opening18have the same width. The central portion of the opening18contains an arcuate portion that gradually increases the width of the opening18from the first end to a centralized point and gradually decreases the width of the opening18to the second end. The arcuate portion is located on the top side and the bottom side of the opening18, near the central portion of the opening18. The scoop12may be composed of metal, plastic, wood, or the like.

The retention device14, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, contains a base20with an upwardly extending flange22. The bottom side of the base20is generally curved and extends to two opposed side portions24, extending from the bottom side of the base20to the top side of the base20. The top side of the base20is generally flat. The flange22extends upwardly from the top side of the retention device14. The first side of the flange22is engaged to the top side of the base20. The flange22gradually decreases in width until it reaches the second end of the flange22. The flange22includes a first opening26and a second opening28. The first opening26is adjacent the first side of the flange22and is generally circularly shaped. The second opening28is adjacent the second side of the flange22and is generally triangularly shaped. It should be noted the first opening26and second opening28may be any shape as desired by the user. The retention device14may be composed of metal, plastic, wood, or the like. In an alternative embodiment, the retention device14is composed of a material that is different than the material the scoop12is composed. For example, the scoop12may be composed of metal and the retention device14may be composed of plastic. Alternatively, the scoop12may be composed of plastic and the retention device14may be composed of metal.

The first opening26has a generally flat bottom portion that is in close proximity to the first side of the flange22and has a first end and a second end. A side portion extends circularly from the first end to the second end of the bottom portion of the first opening26. Except for the flat bottom portion, the first opening is generally circular.

The second opening28contains a generally concave base portion with a first end and a second end. A first side portion extends upwardly from the first end of the base portion and a second side portion extends upwardly from the second end of the base portion. The first side portion and the second side portion are angled towards each other and the distance between the first side portion and the second side portion decreases as the first side portion and the second side portion extend from the base portion. The first end of the first side portion and the second side portion are engaged to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the base portion. The second end of the first side portion is engaged to a first end of a top portion. The second end of the second side portion is engaged to the second end of the top portion. The length of the top portion is less than the length of the base portion.

The retention device14is inserted into the opening18of the scoop12. As shown inFIG. 7. Specifically, the first side of the flange22of the retention device14is inserted into the bottom side of the scoop12and extends through the top side of the scoop12. The retention device14is pushed through the opening18until the flat portion of the base20of the retention device14engages the bottom side of the scoop12. The base20of the retention device14is wider than the width of the opening18, thus preventing the base20from extending through the opening18. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, the flange22, which has a length (Lf) less than the length of the opening (Lo), extends through the opening18, but the base20does not.

During use, a user uses the scoop12to dig a hole in sand or dirt, as shown inFIGS. 17A-17D, 19A, 20A, 21A, and 22A. The scoop12allows the user to penetrate the sand or dirt, and also to scoop the sand or dirt away forming a hole. Once the hole is dug, the user inserts the retention device14through the opening18in the scoop12, as shown inFIGS. 17E, 19B, 20B, 21B, and 22B. The flange22is inserted first through the opening and pushed through the opening18until the base20contacts the scoop as illustrated inFIGS. 7,8, and 9. The base20of the retention device14engages the bottom side of the scoop12, preventing the retention device14from traveling entirely through the opening18, as shown inFIG. 9. The apparatus10is engaged to a rope30or leash32and inserted into the hole previously dug by the scoop12, as shown inFIGS. 17E, 19B, 20B, 20B, and 22Band the dirt or sand is then replaced within the hole and on top of the apparatus10, as shown inFIGS. 17F, 19C, 20C, 21C, and 22C. In addition to dirt and sand, the apparatus10may be used in snow, rocks, and the like.

As shown inFIG. 21C, a dog leash32is engaged to one of the openings (26,28). The apparatus10is then placed within the hole and sand is placed within the hole, burying the apparatus10and retaining the apparatus10within the hole, as shown inFIGS. 21A and 21B. One end of the dog leash32is buried with the apparatus10, but the opposite side of the leash is retained outside the hole and engaged to a leash of the dog34, retaining the dog34within a confined area near the hole with the apparatus10therein. In another embodiment as illustrated inFIGS. 18, 19A-19C, 20A-20C, 22A-22C, an end of a rope30is engaged to one of the openings (26,28) and the other end is engaged to canopy36, cooler38, or umbrella40.

As illustrated inFIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13, the scoop112may be shaped like a football having a top side and a bottom side that interconnects at each end forming rounded ends at each end of the scoop112. The shape is generally oblong. As illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 15, the scoop212is generally oval shaped.