Animal excrement collector device

An animal excrement collector device including a handle having a first internal cavity; a spring-loaded extension assembly disposed therein, that extends an extension rod from the handle upon activation of an extension button disposed on the handle; a trigger-lock mechanism, which is continuously disposed within the first internal cavity and an extension rod second internal cavity, includes a trigger grip member that activates a trigger button which, in turn, extends first and second cables that extend claw members hingedly attached to the second cables, which, in turn, expand a waste collection bag attached thereto. The claw members retract to pick up an object, such as animal excrement, and scoop the object into the waste collection bag for containment. The used waste collection bag may be hung from a J-hook disposed on a handle lower end. A bag dispenser disposed within the second internal cavity holds unused bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of animal waste collection and disposal devices are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a device that includes a handle having a first internal cavity; a spring-loaded extension assembly disposed therein, that extends an extension rod from the handle upon activation of an extension button disposed on the handle; a trigger-lock mechanism, which is continuously disposed within the first internal cavity and an extension rod second internal cavity, includes a trigger grip member that activates a trigger button which, in turn, extends first and second cables that extend claw members hingedly attached to the second cables, which, in turn, expand a waste collection bag attached thereto. The claw members retract to pick up an object, such as animal excrement, and scoop the object into the waste collection bag for containment. The used waste collection bag may be hung from a J-hook disposed on a handle lower end. A torus member inserted into a hole on the handle upper end permits a user to place his wrist therethrough to securely hold onto the device. A bag dispenser disposed within the second internal cavity holds unused bags.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for animal waste collection and disposal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present animal excrement collector device, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an animal excrement collector device which has many novel features that result in an animal excrement collector device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.

To accomplish this, the present animal excrement collector device is used in conjunction with a waste collection bag to pick up animal excrement. The device includes a handle having a first internal cavity; a spring-loaded extension assembly disposed therein, that extends an extension rod from the handle upon activation of an extension button disposed on the handle; a trigger-lock mechanism, which is continuously disposed within the first internal cavity and an extension rod second internal cavity, includes a trigger grip member that activates a trigger button which, in turn, extends first and second cables that extend claw members hingedly attached to the second cables, which, in turn, expand a waste collection bag attached thereto. The claw members retract to pick up an object, such as animal excrement, and scoop the object into the waste collection bag for containment. The used waste collection bag may be hung from a J-hook disposed on a handle lower end. A torus member inserted into a hole on the handle upper end permits a user to place his wrist therethrough to securely hold onto the device. A bag dispenser disposed within the second internal cavity holds unused bags.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particularFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, example of the instant animal excrement collector device employing the principles and concepts of the present animal excrement collector device and generally designated by the reference number10will be described.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 5a preferred embodiment of the present animal excrement collector device10is illustrated. The animal excrement collector device10employs several waste collection bags130stored therein, which are removed therefrom and placed upon retractable claw members65of the device10, to pick up animal excrement.

The animal excrement collector device10includes a cylindrical substantially L-shaped handle20. The handle20has an upper end22, an opposite lower end24, a juncture26disposed between the upper end22and the lower end24. The handle20also has a front side28, a rear side30, a right side31, and a first internal cavity33.

A hollow cylindrical extension rod35is slidingly disposed within the handle20first internal cavity33. The extension rod35has a top end37and a bottom end39. Attached to the extension rod35is a hollow containment body40. The containment body40has a cylindrical lower portion42having a proximal end44and a distal end46, a frusto-conical upper portion48attached to the proximal end44, and a second internal cavity50. The upper portion48has an upper edge52attached to the bottom end39of the extension rod35.

A hollow bag dispenser54is centrally disposed within the containment body40. The bag dispenser54has an aperture56centrally disposed within a lower wall58of the bag dispenser54. A plurality of identical flexible flaps112is disposed within the aperture56. The flaps112are releasably conjoined at a center point113of the aperture56. The flaps112releasably engage a forward edge132of one of the waste collection bags130in order to remove the waste collection bags130one at a time from the bag dispenser54.

A spring-loaded extension assembly60continuously disposed within the first internal cavity33. The extension assembly60alternately extends and retracts the extension rod35outwardly from and inwardly into the handle20lower end24, respectively, upon the alternate activation and deactivation, respectively, of an extension button62disposed on the handle20juncture26. The extension button releasably lockingly engages the extension rod35.

The present device10also includes a plurality of petal-shaped claw members65. Each claw member65has an internal edge66, an opposite external edge68, and an outer wall69. The internal edge66is hingedly attached to a pair of spring hinges70, which are also attached to a bottom wall72of the containment body40. Each claw member65has a convex longitudinal cross-section. A substantially lune-shaped ridge74is disposed on the external edge68on an underside76of the claw member, the ridge74extended inwardly from the external edge68of the claw member65. The ridge74has an inwardly pointed apex75centrally disposed on an exterior edge77thereof. Both the lune-shape of the ridge74and the inwardly pointed apex75provide a more secure grip onto one of the waste collection bags130than if the ridge74was straight-edged and lacked an apex75. The ridge74is formed of rubber to grip the waste collection bag130inwardly upon retraction of the claw members65more easily than a slick-surface ridge which would not grip the waste collection bag130as well. In addition, a double-edged prong78is centrally disposed on the outer wall of69each of the claw members65. A pair of forward edges79thereon is directed upwardly toward the containment body40. The prongs78secure an outward edge132one of the waste collection bags130onto the claw members65.

A trigger-lock mechanism80is continuously disposed in the first internal cavity33and the second internal cavity50. The trigger-lock mechanism80alternately extends and retracts each of the spring hinges70and, in turn, extends and retracts the claw member65attached to the each spring hinge70whereby the claw members65are placed into an extended position and alternately a retracted position.

The trigger-lock mechanism80also includes a trigger button82disposed on the handle20upper end22and a spring-loaded first cable84having a top portion85continuously disposed from a spring86, which is disposed within the first internal cavity33proximal to the trigger button82, and terminating within the second internal cavity50proximal to the upper edge52of the containment body40upper portion48. The first cable84also has a bottom portion88. A sliding mechanism90slidingly engages the bottom portion88. A plurality of second cables92is included in the trigger-lock mechanism80. Each second cable92has an upward end94attached to the sliding mechanism90and a bottomward end96attached to one of the spring hinges70. A roller97is disposed between each of the second cables92and the bag dispenser54, wherein each second cable92slidingly engages an outside edge98of one of the rollers98.

The trigger-lock mechanism80further includes an elongated spring-loaded trigger grip member99having an interior end100rotatingly attached to the spring86and a protrusion102extending outwardly from an upper wall104thereof. The trigger grip member99has an ergonomic lower edge118having a plurality of rounded protuberances120thereon and a depression122disposed between each of the protuberances120. Each of the depressions122is sized to removably receive a finger therein in order to ensure a firm, yet comfortable, grip on the trigger grip member99.

In use, upon the alternate releasably locking engagement and disengagement of the trigger grip member99with the trigger button82, the spring86extends and retracts the first cable84downwardly and upwardly, respectively. Upon the alternate extension and retraction of the first cable84downwardly and upwardly, respectively, the sliding mechanism90alternately extends and retracts each of the second cables92downwardly and upwardly, respectively over an outside edge98of one of the rollers97. Upon the alternate extension and retraction of the second cables92, the spring hinges70extend outwardly and retract inwardly, respectively. Upon the alternate outward extension and inward retraction of each of the spring hinges70, each of the claw members65alternately extend and retract, respectively.

The bag dispenser54releasably contains at least one waste collection bag130therein, as shown inFIG. 4. A waste collection bag130contained within the bag dispenser54is in a contained position, while a waste collection bag130disposed outside the bag dispenser54is in a released position.

Upon the extension of the claw members65to the extended position, an outward edge132of the waste collection bag130in a released position removably attaches to the prongs78and a continuous wall133thereof extends over the external edge68of each of the claw members65whereby the waste collection bag130is in an expanded position. Upon the retraction of the claw members65having the continuous wall133of the waste collection bag130extended thereover, the waste collection bag130is in a collapsed position. Upon the retraction of the claw members65from an extended position into a retracted position, the waste collection bag130collapses from an expanded position into a collapsed position whereby an object124, which may be an amount of animal excrement, is selectively seized by the claw members65and is contained within the waste collection bag130whereby the waste collection bag130is disposed in a holding position.

A cylindrical J-shaped first hook106is disposed on the handle20front side28proximal to the lower end24of the handle20. A cylindrical J-shaped second hook108is disposed on the handle20right side31proximal to the lower end24of the handle20. Each of the first hook106and the second hook108removably retain an item110thereon. The item110is a waste collection bag130in a holding position or, alternately, a small bag of dog food, a user's keys, or another similar thing which the user wishes to hang from the device10.

A hole114is disposed through the handle20upper end22. A torus member116slidingly engages the hole20. The torus member116is sized to removably receive a wrist therethrough thereby allowing a user to securely hold onto the device10while using the device10.