Apparatus for collecting animal waste deposits

A harness-type device is disclosed for collecting the waste products of an animal, such as a dog. The harness includes a collection bag which is in appropriate contact with the animal's body when the harness is worn to collect all the waste products. Several embodiments are shown which, preferably, may include i) flexible straps for comfortably retaining the harness, ii) adjustment according to the size of the animal, and iii) a strap which encircles the tail.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to apparatus for collecting animals waste 
deposits. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Animal waste deposits, i.e. urine and in particular feces deposits, create 
a health, cleanliness and aesthetic problem in urban and non-urban areas. 
One type of solution to the above problems is to enact regulations which 
require the animal owner to collect his animal's feces. However, it is 
often difficult to enforce these regulations since the animal's owner has 
to collect the feces from the ground every time his animal discharges it. 
A solution to the above problem is to provide an animal toilet garment, 
such as the one described in U.S. Pat. 3,090,356 to Andrisani. As shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2 to which reference is now made, the animal toilet garment 
described by Andrisani includes a waist strap 10, side straps 12 connected 
thereto, a side strap support 14, a feces bag collection holder 16 which 
together form the animal toilet garment, and a feces collection bag 18. 
The waist strap 10, the side straps 12 and the side straps support 14 
include at least one buckle, referenced 20, 22 and 24, respectively, for 
adjusting the length of each one of them separately in accordance with the 
animal size. The animal toilet garment also includes a separate urine 
collection bag 26. 
The animal toilet garment described by Andrisani has several disadvantages: 
A. According to Andrisani, only the collection bag is disposable and being 
replaced after the animal discharges feces, since all other elements form 
the animal toilet garment. 
B. The apparatus for collecting the animal feces is loose since the bag 
collection holder 16 is formed of a rigid frame which should not contact 
the sensitive anus zone. This is unaesthetic since it does not assure that 
all the feces will reach the collection bag. 
C. In order to adjust the length of any of the waist strap 10, the side 
straps 12 or the support strap 14, the respective buckles 20, 22 and 24 
have to be adjusted. 
D. The apparatus for collecting the animal urine 26 is a different 
apparatus and therefore, in order to collect both feces and urine 
deposits, the animal's owner has to adjust the position of the buckles, 
the feces collection bag and the urine collection bag. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
apparatus for animal waste deposits collection. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided 
apparatus for animal feces collection which includes a collection bag and 
straps attached thereto, the apparatus can be connected to a waist strap 
or to any suitable animal's garment. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided 
apparatus for animal waste deposits, i.e. both feces and urine, collection 
which includes a collection bag and straps attached thereto, the apparatus 
can be connected to a waist strap or to any suitable animal's garment. 
According to the present invention, the collection bag of the apparatus for 
waste deposits collection is in tight contact with the animal's body 
around its anus or around both its anus and its organ. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus for 
animal's waste deposits includes a flexible strap hooked around the 
animal's tail to ensure that the feces collection bag will be in tight 
contact with the animal's body around the respective organs at the time of 
waste deposits discharge. 
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus for 
animal's waste deposits collection may also collect blood from a female 
animal during estrus and may be used as a contraceptive against undesired 
pregnancy during the estrus periods. 
There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, apparatus for collecting animal waste deposits 
discharges, such as feces discharges, from an animal wearing a garment 
which includes a collection bag for collecting the animal waste deposits, 
and at least one strap for connecting the collection bag to the garment, 
wherein the collection bag is in contact with the animal body when the at 
least one strap being connected to the garment. The garment may be any 
animal's garment and also a waist strap. 
Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the 
apparatus may also include an additional strap connected to the collection 
bag, the additional strap being around the tail of the animal or connected 
to the garment top for animals not having a tail. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, any of the at 
least one strap and the additional strap is a flexible strap. 
Alternatively, their length can be adjusted to a desired length. 
There is also provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, apparatus for collecting animal waste deposits 
discharges, such as feces discharges which includes a first strap, a 
collection bag for collecting the animal waste deposits, and at least one 
second strap for connecting the collection bag to the first strap wherein 
the collection bag is in contact with the animal body when the at least 
one second strap being connected to the first strap. The first strap may 
be part of an animal garment. 
Additionally, the apparatus may include a third strap connected to the 
collection bag, the third strap being around the tail of the animal. 
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, any of the 
first strap, at least one second strap and third strap is a flexible 
strap. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, their length can be adjusted 
to a desired length. 
Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the 
collection bag includes a support, which preferably forms a shape of an 
arch, to which the at least one strap is being connected and which is in 
contact with the animal body, and a bag connected to the support for 
collecting the waste deposits. 
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, one side of 
each of the at least one strap and the additional strap is tied around a 
respective hole in the support. 
There is further provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, apparatus for collecting animal waste deposit 
discharges. The apparatus includes a harness worn by the animal and a 
waste collector. The waste collector includes a collection bag and a bag 
support integrally connected to the collection bag. The waste collector is 
in contact with the animal body and is removably connected to the harness. 
Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
the harness includes a main waist strap, a plurality of side straps and an 
annular component. One end of each of the plurality of side straps is 
connected to the main waist strap and the opther end is connected to the 
annular component. 
Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
the annular component includes a plurality of tail straps whose length can 
be adjusted. 
Finally, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the 
apparatus is also operative as a contraceptive for female animals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4 which illustrate apparatus for 
animal's feces collection, constructed and operative according to a 
preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
The apparatus for animal's feces collection, generally referenced 100, 
preferably comprises a feces collection bag 102 and at least one side 
strap, collectively referenced 104, connected thereto. In the illustrated 
embodiment four side straps are shown for exemplary purposes only and are 
referenced 104A, 104B, 104C and 104D. The apparatus 100 may also include a 
tail strap 106. 
In the illustrated embodiment, the side straps 104 connect the collection 
bag 102 to a waist strap 108. The waist strap 108 can be made of any 
suitable material such as from leather or plastic. In the illustrated 
embodiment, the waist strap 108 is closed around a dog 110 using any 
suitable material, one side of which is fastened to its other side, such 
as a Velcro.RTM. fastener. 
According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the side 
straps 104 may be connected to any suitable animal garment worn by the 
animal, such, as dog garment 128 (FIG. 5). 
The collection bag 102 is preferably made from a support 112, which is 
preferably, but not necessarily, both flexible and soft not to disturb the 
animal's body when attached thereto and rigid enough to support the stress 
created by connecting the collection bag to the waist strap 108, and a bag 
114 connected thereto, for collecting the discharged feces. The bag 114 
recycle may be made of any suitable material and preferably from water 
proof material, such as water proof plastic. 
Alternatively, the support 112 and the bag 114 may be formed of the same 
material to form one integral unit, such as from Latex. 
The side straps 104 and the tail straps 106 are preferably made of any 
suitable material, such as from rubber, plastic or cotton. It is a 
particular feature of the present invention that the side straps are made 
of flexible material, such as rubber. 
It will be appreciated that the apparatus 100 is shown in FIGS. 3B and 5 in 
its assembled state, i.e. where the side straps 104 connect the waist 
strap 108 to the collection bag 102 and the tail strap 106 is connected to 
the collection bag 102 around the dog's tail. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, in its unassembled state the waist strap 108 is 
detached from the apparatus 100. 
According to one preferred embodiment, all the parts of the apparatus but 
the waist strap 108 are disposed after feces discharge, thereby avoiding 
close contacts of the hands with the anus area or the feces collection bag 
102. Preferably, both the side straps 104, the tail strap 106 and the 
collection bag 102 are made of relatively inexpensive materials, such as 
rubber, cardboard or plastic and preferably of recyclable materials. 
In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention the waist strap 108 
includes hooks 116, for hooking the side straps 104 thereon. As best seen 
for side strap 104D, each one of the side straps 104 is tied around a hole 
118 in the support 112 on one end thereof and is hooked on one of the 
hooks 116 on its other end. 
Alternatively, the side straps can be glued or fused to the collection bag, 
such that the apparatus 100 forms one integral piece. 
In the illustrated embodiment, one end of the tail strap 106 is tied around 
hole 120 and its other end is hooked on the hook 122 whereas the strap is 
around the animal's tail. The tail strap further fastens the collection 
bag 102 to the animal's body to ensure that the discharged feces will fall 
into the bag 114. 
According to an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
only the bag 114 is disposable while the bag support 112, the side straps 
104 and the tail strap 106 may be reused. For this alternative embodiment, 
the bag 114 may be connected to the support 112 by any suitable 
connection, such as by plastic push buttons. After feces discharge, the 
side straps 104 are preferably being unhooked from the waist strap 108 as 
described hereinabove, such that the hands of the animal's owner are away 
from the animal's anus, but unlike the embodiments described hereinabove, 
the bag 114 is separated from the support 112 and only the bag 114 is 
being disposed. 
It will be appreciated that the bag 114 may include any absorbing material 
to absorb the liquids of the dog's waste deposits, such as a sponge. 
It will be appreciated that the shape of the upper part of the support 112, 
referenced 124 is preferably arched so as to better fit under the animal's 
tail. 
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the apparatus 100 
is in contact with the dog's 110 body around its anus to ensure that all 
feces discharges fall into the collection bag 102. In the illustrated 
embodiment, the tail strap 106 and the side straps 104 ensure the contact 
of the support 112 to the dog's 110 body. 
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5 to which reference is now made, the tail 
strap 106 can be replaced by at least one back strap 136. The back strap 
136 may be connected to the collection bag (FIG. 5) or to the tail strap 
106 (FIG. 7). When the back strap 136 is connected to the tail strap 106, 
whenever the dog lifts his tail, such as at the time of feces discharge, 
the apparatus 100 even further attaches the dog's body around the anus. 
This is particularly useful when the dog tail has been shortened as shown 
for the dog of FIG. 5. 
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, at 
least part of the side straps, as shown in FIG. 5 for the side strap 104C, 
may be connected to the waist strap or the animal's garment 128 under the 
dog's leg. 
It will be appreciated that the apparatus for feces collection described 
hereinabove with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 3-5 may also be used 
for both feces and urine collection as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to which 
reference is now made. Similar elements in FIGS. 3-5 and FIGS. 6 and 7 are 
referenced by similar reference numerals. 
As shown in FIG. 6, when the support 112 is large enough to be in contact 
with a female dog body around both its anus 140 and its organ 142, the 
collection bag 114 collects both feces and urine deposits therefrom. As 
shown in FIG. 7, when the support 112 is large enough to contact the male 
dog body around both its anus 144 and its organ 146, the apparatus 100 
collects both feces and urine deposits therefrom. 
It will be appreciated that the apparatus of FIG. 6 may be also used to 
collect blood from the female organ during estrus and as a contraceptive 
to protect the female dog from pregnancy during estrus periods. 
It will be appreciated that the size of any one of the elements described 
hereinabove, such as the collection bag 102, the side straps 104, the tail 
strap 106 and the waist strap 110 can be determined in accordance with the 
dog size. Preferably, the size of any of the straps can be adjusted in 
accordance with the dog's size to ensure close contact of the support 112 
with the dog's body around its anus or around its anus and its organ. 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration 
of a further preferred embodiment of the apparatus for waste collection, 
generally designated 200, in its assembled position. FIG. 9 is a side view 
of feces collection apparatus 200. Elements which are similar to elements 
in the embodiments of FIGS. 3-7 described hereinabove, are referenced by 
similar reference numerals. 
Waste collection apparatus 200 comprises a waste collector 202 removably 
connected to a harness, generally referenced 204. Waste collector 202 
comprises a bag support 203 integrally connected to a collection bag 206. 
Waste collector 202 is connected to harness 204 using any suitable 
fastening device 207, such as a Velcro.RTM. fastener. 
Harness 204 comprises a main waist strap 208 connected to one end of a 
plurality of side straps, collectively referenced 210. Side straps 210, 
which are preferably elasticated, are suitably connected at their other 
end to an annular component 211. Annular component 211 is dimensioned so 
as to match the dimensions of bag support 203 of waste collector 202. 
A pair of tail straps 214 which are preferably elasticated, are suitably 
connected to annular component 211. Each end of tail straps 214 may be 
fastened to each other by suitable means such as a Velcro.RTM. fastener, 
described hereinabove. 
Fastener 212 may be any known in the art fastening device such as a belt 
buckle. Preferably, fastener 212 is a snap fastener having a fixed 
receiver 216 and a flexible clip type connector 218. One end of main strap 
208 is suitably connected to receiver 216 and the other end 220 of main 
strap 208 is adjustably connected to connector 218. 
It is a feature of the present embodiment of the invention that harness 204 
may be worn together or, independently of and separate from waste 
collector 202. As best illustrated in FIG. 9, the harness 204 is placed 
around the rear end of the animal so that annular component 211 covers the 
animal's anus and main strap 208 encircles the animal's body. Since the 
side straps 210 are preferably elasticated, the harness 204 can be 
adjusted to suit the size of animal. The main strap 208 can be adjusted by 
slidingly engaging end 220 within the connector 218 of fastener 212. Tail 
straps 214 are tied around the animal's tail and fastened together by 
means of the Velcro.RTM. type fastener. 
Thus the harness 204 can be adjusted in accordance with the dog's size to 
ensure close contact of the second frame 211 with the dog's body around 
its anus or around its anus and its organ. Alternatively, different sizes 
of harnesses may be used, to suit different types and sizes of dog. 
When required, the waste collector 202 together with the collection bag 206 
can be attached by means of the Velcro.RTM. type fastener to the annular 
component 211. After use, the waste collector 202 can be detached from the 
annular component 211 and disposed of. Both the fixing and removable of 
the waste collector 202 together with its collection bag 206 can be made 
without directly coming into contact with the animal's anal area and 
without disturbing the harness 204 itself. Thus, there is no need to 
remove the harness 204 from the animal in order to remove the collection 
bag 206 for disposal. 
As hereinbefore described with reference to the embodiments of FIGS. 3-7, 
the waste collector 202 is preferably but not necessarily, both flexible 
and soft not to disturb the animal's body when attached thereto. 
The collection bag 206 for collecting the discharged feces may be made of 
any suitable material and preferably from water proof material, such as 
water proof plastic. Alternatively, the support 203 and the bag 206 may be 
formed of the same material to form one integral unit, such as from Latex. 
Preferably, both the waste collector 202 together with its collection bag 
206 are made of relatively inexpensive materials, such as rubber, 
cardboard or plastic and preferably of recyclable materials. 
According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the main 
strap 208 may be connected to any suitable animal garment worn by the 
animal, similar to the dog garment 128, illustrated with respect to the 
embodiment of FIG. 5. 
It will be appreciated that the present invention is described with respect 
to a dog for exemplary purposes only and that the apparatus may by 
utilized to collect any animal's waste deposits. 
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present 
invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described 
hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by 
the claims that follow: