Abstract:
A pet waste capture device includes a harness and a collection container where the harness fits around the pet to secure the collection container in position. The harness may include straps and elastic bands to comfortably and securely fit to the pet. The collection container may be removable.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many localities require that pet owners remove droppings their pets leave in public places. While many owners ignore the mandate, others use scoopers, gloves, or bags for this unpleasant task. There have been many attempts to improve this process including use of pet apparel products designed to interdict the offending material at its source. These attempts have generally been inconvenient for the user, expensive to use, uncomfortable for the pet, or simply so monstrously disgusting as to forestall any use of the products. 
         [0002]    Three U.S. patents are exemplary of earlier designs. U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,187 for a Device for Collection of Animal Waste describes a relatively complex collection of chest strap, leg loops, leg braces and a collar loop, where the collection is intended to support a waste bag. The device requires the user to install and adjust straps individually around the animal&#39;s legs, body, and to a collar, a complex procedure that may be uncomfortable for the animal. The device includes straps disposed beneath an animal&#39;s anus, a position prone to contamination during use and one that requires the user to place his or her hands in a sensitive location. The patent describes that each of the straps may be made of an elastic textile material but does not identify the selective use of elastic materials for particular parts. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,152 for a Device for Collection of Animal Wastes describes a similar complex collection of straps by the same inventor as U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,187. The patent also includes straps encircling the animal&#39;s legs and running both above the tail and below the anus. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,980 for a Device with Disposable Bag for Collecting Animal Waste describes a relatively complex multi-component drawstring bag with a stiffening band adjacent the bag mouth. Hooks depending from elastic cords couple the bag to a harness that the patent does not describe. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The invention includes a harness suitable for removably attaching a collection container to a pet and an inexpensive collection container for disposing of collected wastes. The harness holds the collection container proximate to the pet&#39;s anus so that any feces produced falls into the collection container. The user may then remove and discard the collection container, and, if desired, affix a new collection container to the harness. 
         [0006]    The invention avoids many deficiencies of prior solutions by providing a simple harness including strong straps to firmly anchor the harness to the pet and flexible elastic bands that give the pet freedom of movement. Straps and bands cooperate to dispose the collection container near the animal&#39;s anus with the container mouth open. The collection container itself may be a simple and inexpensive bag formed of a single material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the harness and collection container of the invention shown disposed on a pet, here a dog. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates the harness of the same embodiment as  FIG. 1  without the dog or the collection container to more clearly show relationships among the parts. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2   b  is an expanded view of a portion of  FIG. 2   a.    
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the collection container of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates attachment of an embodiment of the collection container to an embodiment of the harness. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    While many types of pets, such as cats, ferrets, pigs, and the like, may benefit from the invention, the most common use of the invention is likely with dogs. Referring to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates one embodiment of the invention  1  disposed on a dog  2 , harness  3  supports collection container  4  adjacent the dog&#39;s anus. Harness  3  includes abdominal strap  10  cinched around the dog&#39;s torso. Tail strap  12  is disposed above the animal&#39;s tail and connecting straps  14  connect tail strap  12  to abdominal strap  10 . Descending straps  16  pass on either side of the tail; the upper end of each descending strap  16  connects to tail strap  12 . Each descending strap  16  supports an attached spring strip  18 , and spring strips  18  support collection container  4 , shown in more detail in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Elastic bands  20  route under each hind leg to connect to the lower aspect of abdominal strap  10 . 
         [0013]    Abdominal strap  10  forms the primary anchor of harness  3  to the pet. Its purpose is to firmly attach harness  3  in a simple manner that permits easy adjustment. Abdominal strap  10  may be formed of a variety of materials to provide strength and a secure fit. Preferably, abdominal strap  10  is formed polymer, leather, textile, or the like. More preferably, it is high strength strap webbing such as woven nylon webbing. Such webbing is relatively inexpensive, extremely durable, may be readily joined by several techniques, and is compatible with a variety of fasteners. 
         [0014]    Abdominal strap  10  may form a closed loop to fit the pet, but this may make installation difficult. Preferably, abdominal strap  10  is open but includes at least one adjustable fastener  22 . Adjustable fastener  22  closes the free ends of abdominal strap  10  and permits tightening or loosening as required. While adjustable fastener  22  on abdominal strap  10  may be in any position when installed on the pet, preferably, it is on the pet&#39;s back. This position has the benefits of easy adjustment for the user and difficulty for the pet to reach and possibly escape harness  3 . Adjustable fastener  22  may be any of a number of fastening types such as buckles, slip-locks, cam fittings, Velcro® or the like. Preferably, adjustable fastener  22  is a slip-lock fastener. 
         [0015]    Tail strap  12  is disposed above the animal&#39;s tail and oriented roughly parallel to abdominal strap  10 . Connecting straps  14  serve to connect tail strap  12  to abdominal strap  10  and thereby position tail strap  12  above the animal&#39;s tail. The tail itself may serve as a convenient landmark for installation of harness  3 . The harness  3  is correctly positioned when tail strap  12  is centered just above the animal&#39;s tail and when connecting straps  14  are taut. One function of the tail strap  12  is to position descending straps  15  so that they descend on either side of the tail. 
         [0016]    Each descending strap  16  depends from at or near one end of tail strap  12 . The function of descending straps  16  is to position retaining devices that hold collection container  4  proximate the animal&#39;s anus. Each descending strap  16  supports a spring strip  18 . Preferably, tail strap  12 , connecting straps  14 , and descending straps  16  are of similar composition to abdominal strap  10 . 
         [0017]    Spring strips  18 , more readily visible in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , are elongated segments of flexible springy material. Each spring strip  18  attaches near both its ends to separated positions on one of the descending straps  16 . Each spring strip  18  is longer than the distance separating the two attachment positions so that the spring force of each spring strips  18  flexes against the constrained ends and forms a half loop  24 . Each half loop  24  has a gap separating the body of each spring strip  18  from its attached descending strap  16 . The region of each descending strap  16  between the attachment positions closes each half loop  24  so that the complete structure resembles a letter D with a curved portion and a straight portion bridging the ends of the curve. 
         [0018]    Each half loop  24  may include one or more hooks  26  affixed to each spring strip  18 . Preferably, each half loop  24  includes one hook  26  on each spring strip  18  near the midpoint of each spring strip  18 . In some embodiments, each spring strip  18  includes two or more hooks  26 , with hooks disposed near either end of each spring strip  18 . Spring strips  18  thus keep the hooks  26  on each spring strip  18  separated from one another. The disposition of half loops  24  on opposite-side descending straps  16  keeps opposite-side hooks  26  separated. The net effect is that all hooks  26  are held distant from one another and on opposite sides of the animal&#39;s anus. The separated hooks cooperate to hold collection container  4  open when hooks  26  engage collection container  4 . While spring strips  18  may be formed of any durable material of reasonable compliance, preferably, spring strips  18  are a springy polymer. Most preferably, spring strips  18  are polyethylene or polypropylene. 
         [0019]    Hooks  26  may be of any type, but are preferably relatively flat bent wire hooks of the type commonly known as dress hooks. Such dress hooks are commercially available in a variety of sizes and include openings that permit stitching of the dress hooks to an underlying substrate. Dress hooks are particularly advantageous in this application because the free ends of the hooks are rounded, which reduces the possibility of injury or discomfort to the animal or of snagging and damaging the collection container  4 . The relatively flat conformation of dress hooks helps to retain the collection container without obtruding very far into the opening of the collection container  4 . This significantly reduces the risk that the hooks  26  will be contaminated. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, descending straps  16  extend beyond the end of half-loops  24  distal to tail strap  12 . In these embodiments, each descending strap  16  may include one or more secondary fasteners  27 . Secondary fasteners  27  may be affixed to each descending strap  16  in the region beyond the end of the half-loops  24  distal to tail strap  12 . 
         [0021]    Secondary fasteners  27  advantageously provide another pair of connection points to collection container  4  displaced spatially from hooks  26 . The benefit of this spatial separation is that, when connected to the secondary fasteners, the collection container  4  may be held more completely open. Secondary fasteners  27  may be similar to hooks  26 , but are preferably conventional buttons stitched to descending straps  16 . The use of buttons as secondary fasteners  27  advantageously permits simple attachment of collection container  4  once collection container  4  is is affixed to hooks  26 . Buttons allow mouth  32  of collection container  4  to stretch between hooks  26  without a requirement to orient collection container  4  with respect to the buttons. Unlike hooks  26 , which have a preferred orientation of fastening, a portion of the opening of collection container  4  may be retained beyond a button in any orientation. 
         [0022]    Elastic bands  20  connect near the lower end of each descending strap  16  to abdominal strap  10  near the lowest point of abdominal strap  10 . These may be viewed to best advantage in  FIG. 2   a , which shows elastic bands  20  before connection to abdominal strap  10 . Each elastic band  20  connects to one of descending straps  16  and passes adjacent to the medial aspect of the animal&#39;s thigh on the same side of the animal as the descending strap  16  to which it connects. Preferably, neither elastic band  20  crosses the animal&#39;s midline. Elastic bands  20  advantageously allow for the animal&#39;s free motion. When an animal moves its hind legs to walk, run, sit, or lie down, the distance between abdominal strap  10  and descending strap  16  may change as individual muscles contract and relax. Other activities, such as breathing, squatting, or defecating can also change the relationship between locations on the animal. Elastic bands  20  of the invention stretch and recover in response to these changes. This stretching and recovery maintains the collection container in position without significantly inhibiting movement. 
         [0023]    Without the connection of the descending straps  16  to abdominal strap  10 , the collection chamber position might shift, making it ineffective. A non-elastic strap in this position might either limit the animal&#39;s motion (if too short), or bunch up allowing the collection container to shift (if too long). An intermediate length of non-elastic strap may do both. Most materials have some degree of elastic compliance. Elastic bands  20  of the invention may have significant elastic compliance, preferably stretching at least 20% of resting length, more preferably at least 50% of resting length, and most preferably at least 80% of resting length. Suitable materials for the elastic bands  20  include natural and synthetic rubbers and textiles containing stretchable fibers such as spandex. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, elastic bands  20  may be removably attached to abdominal strap  10 . This may simplify installation of harness  3  onto an animal. Preferably, elastic bands  20  terminate in fastening loops  29  at the end designed for attachment to abdominal strap  10 . Abdominal strap  10  may include band fasteners  31  that attach to fastening loops  29 . Preferably, band fasteners  31  are conventional buttons stitched to abdominal strap  10 . Fastening loops  29  slip around band fasteners  31  to hold elastic bands  20  to abdominal strap  10 . 
         [0025]    Other components, such as abdominal strap  10 , connecting straps  14 , tail strap  12 , and descending straps  16  are preferably flexible and may be at least slightly elastic. These parts are preferably relatively non-elastic as compared to elastic bands  20 . The relatively non-elastic straps, particularly descending straps  16 , serve to position collection container  4  so as to avoid displacement during use. Use of descending straps  16  that have high elasticity risks movement of collection container  4 . Preferably, descending straps  16  have elastic compliance of less than about 20% and more preferably, less than about 10%. 
         [0026]    Relatively more stretchable elastic bands  20  serve both to bias descending straps  16  against the animal&#39;s posterior and to accommodate relatively large motion induced changes associated with leg movement. The stretchable elastic bands  20  further eases harness installation in embodiments including removable attachment of elastic bands  20  to abdominal strap  10 . 
         [0027]    The several straps and bands that make up harness  3  may connect to one another by any of a variety of methods including interweaving, use of adhesives, use of fasteners such as staples, rivets, slip locks, or  Velcro. ® Preferred methods of connection include stitching or sewing. Sections of any of several straps may fold back along their own lengths before stitching to increase the strength and durability of connections. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows collection container  4 , which receives the animals feces. Collection container  4  is preferably of a fluid impervious material to avoid leakage or seepage. A preferred material is a polymer film such as polyethylene or similar inexpensive but fluid tight material. Collection container  4  may take many forms, such as a rigid bottle contoured to fit an animal, but is preferably an elongated flexible bag with an opening defining mouth  32  at one end and an opposite closed end  30 . Mouth  32  may be formed with integral loops  34  configured to engage hooks  26  on harness  3 . Hooks  26  simply clasp collection container  4  to harness  3 . This advantageously allows easy attachment an removal of collection container  4  from harness  3 . Loops  34  may be distributed about mouth  32  so that, when hooks  26  engage loops  34 , mouth  32  is held in an open configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, mouth  32  may connect to tabs  38 . Tabs  38  may extend from mouth  32  to separate loops  34  from mouth  32 . This separation advantageously disposes collection container  4  to avoid interference from protuberant portions of the animal&#39;s anatomy. 
         [0030]    Alternatively, or in addition, collection container  4  may incorporate strings  40  attached to collection container  4 . Strings  40  are preferably arranged around mouth  32  and provide attachment points for hooks  26  and secondary fasteners  27 . Strings  40  may attach to collection container  4  by any of a number of methods including stitching, adhesive, or retention within a heat sealed channel. Strings  40  may have the added function of acting as drawstrings to close collection container  4  upon removal from harness  3 . 
         [0031]    Collection container  4  is preferably opaque and may incorporate deodorizing or sanitizing materials. In use, collection container  4  depends below the animal&#39;s tail to avoid discomfort to the pet. Preferably, collection container  4  is sized to so that it will not drag on ground. Mouth  32  is oriented to face the animal&#39;s anus when the collection container  4  is mounted to harness  3 . This orientation advantageously causes feces to drop toward the bottom of collection container  4 . Collection container  4  thus may contain the feces in its lower portion, reducing the likelihood of contact while removing and discarding collection container  4 . Collection container  4  may also incorporate features that may help to close off mouth  32  after removal. 
         [0032]    As domestic dogs vary in size more than most other animals, the invention includes features to adjust for the fit of the harness to the animal. Even so, the variations in dog body size are so great that no amount of adjustability is likely to encompass both, for example, a chihuahua and a English mastiff. The invention may include several sizes of harnesses and each size may include adjustments to fit to an individual animal. The use of several size of harnesses has the benefit of allowing users to select the size best fitted to their pet, while the adjustability features allow more precise fitting to the animal&#39;s anatomy. 
         [0033]    The invention may include different size collection containers designed to accommodate animals of different capacity and caliber. Users may select among the differently sized collection containers independently of the harness size. This has the benefit of not hindering an animal&#39;s gait if a pet has, for example, a large body size requiring a large harness but short legs that may cause a large collection container to drag on the ground. 
         [0034]    While the foregoing is directed to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope of the invention. Such alternative embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the features of one or more embodiments of the invention may be combined with one or more features of other embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0035]    The terms and expressions in the Summary and the Detailed Description are terms of description and not of limitation. Recognizing that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed invention, the inventor has no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or of portions of those features. 
         [0036]    All patents, patent applications, and publications mentioned above are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. The inventor does not admit that any of these are prior art.