Abstract:
A scoop device having a scoop and a handle with an articulated connection that allows for a sift plate to be operated by manual manipulation of an actuator bar. The actuator bar is operatively connected to the sift plate by means of a reciprocating bar in an articulating manner. The sift plate is positioned to slide along the bottom of the scoop. The actuator bar, which is contained within and a part of the handle, may be spring biased. The scoop bottom and sift plate may include slotted openings. Manipulation of the actuator bar causes the reciprocating bar to rotate, in turn causing the sift plate to move back and forth, thereby sifting, straining or otherwise separating fresh particulate from scoop.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/382,902, filed Sep. 14, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to animal waste disposal and, more particularly, to a device for removing animal waste and soiled material from a bed of particulate matter such as cat litter. In addition, an even more particularly, the present invention relates to a scoop device that employs an articulated, reciprocating motion that allows the user to sift, strain or otherwise separate fresh particulate matter from the scoop. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The care of pets is a substantial undertaking. In addition to feeding and general healthcare, a pet owner must also tend to pet waste disposal. This is particularly true for cats, which are often house bound animals. A conventional method of addressing cat waste product is to provide a tray or similar container that holds particles or granules of absorbent litter. The cat is trained to urinate and defecate in the “litter box,” thereby affording the owner a more convenient opportunity to retrieve and dispose of the waste and soiled litter. 
         [0004]    Different types of litter are known in the art. One type of litter is often referred to as “clumping litter.” This type of litter forms “clumps” when wetted, as when a cat urinates in the litter box. The clumps can be removed from the box along with any feces and soiled litter to leave the remaining fresh litter available for future use. 
         [0005]    It is well known to provide a scoop or other hand-held device to facilitate the removal of feces, soiled litter and litter clumps. In fact, a wide variety of litter scoops are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,627 discloses a “Scoop for Cat Litter” that includes a shovel-like end portion with a bottom panel, two side panels, and a rear panel that allow the user to dig out waste and soiled litter from a litter box or the like. The disclosed panels include elongated slotted openings to sift on strain the litter for disposal. The slots thus allow the user to strain waste material and soiled litter from the fresh litter, and return the fresh litter to the litter box for future use. The operation may entail shaking the scoop, which can result in spilling some of the litter. A shield is provided at the rear panel to protect a user from contact with litter as a result of the straining or sifting operation. A user of such a device may not vigorously shake the scoop in order to avoid spills. 
         [0006]    As a further example, U.S. Pat. No. 6, 234,549 discloses a “Dual Action Scooper for Clumping and Non-Clumping Cat Litter” that is configured to segregate and lift-away wet cat litter. The rear portion of the scooping blade provides a containment-bowl area, effectively holding wet cat litter when the handle is tilted down. Yet another example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,058, which discloses a “Vibrating Cat Litter Scoop.” That disclosed scoop provides a vibrating mechanism activated by a thumb switch located at the handle of the device. Upon activation, the vibrating mechanism imparts an oscillating movement to accelerate the manual steps of insertion, pushing, lifting and sifting the litter. 
         [0007]    A further example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,523,973, which discloses a “Thermoformed Litter Scoop.” That disclosed scoop provides a generally concave scoop portion having a plurality of openings defined to allow the passage of litter particulates therethough. That disclosed invention is characterized by reinforcing ribs. More particularly, the disclosed scoop discloses at least two handle supporting ribs that extend along substantially the entire length of the handle portion and into the central portion of the scoop portion, and at least two scoop supporting ribs extending outwardly into the handle-scoop connecting region along an upper portion of each side of the rear wall of the scoop portion. 
         [0008]    Yet another scoop is offered under the trademark “DuraScoop,” which provides a slotted, concave scoop portion with an integral handle. The slotted scoop portion is fitted with a matingly-configured slotted, concave closure panel that sits immediately below the scoop. The closure panel includes an integrally formed button that extends both above and below the handle of the scoop so as to be manipulated by a user. Manipulation of the button relative to the handle slides the closure panel relative to the scoop. In a first position, the closure panel slots are aligned with the scoop portion slots so that litter can exit the scoop. Thus, the “DuraScoop” device provides for manual sifting or straining of the litter along the line of that addressed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,627. However, in order to avoid spillage, the “DuraScoop” product provides a button that may be depressed toward the handle so as to slide the closure panel forward relative to the scoop. When fully depressed to a second position, the slots in the scoop are covered by the closure panel so that neither litter nor waste material may spill out of the concave scoop. The user of this “DuraScoop” device is thus provided with the ability to selectively retain all material captured by the scoop, including waste material and soiled litter, for disposal. If the user wishes to sift or strain the litter, the “DuraScoop” product&#39;s slidable closure panel may be returned to the first position by an upward movement of the user&#39;s index finger on the button portion below the handle, which operates to return the button to its original, first position and aligns the scoop&#39;s and closure panel&#39;s respective slots to facilitate sifting and straining. Consistent therewith, the “DuraScoop” product&#39;s advertising states: “Slots close to prevent spills” and “Waste goes in trash not on floor.” See
   http://www.durascoop.com/original.php?productid=2#iding. The purpose and effect of the “DuraScoop” product&#39;s closure panel is to provide a mechanical cover that precludes material from exiting the scoop prematurely; it prevents spillage.   
 
         [0010]    It is, of course, desirable to scoop soiled litter, clumped litter and waste material in such a manner as to prevent spills. Even so, it is also desirable to facilitate the straining and sifting of used (or clumped) litter and waste from the fresh, still useable litter. While each of the foregoing devices provides utility, there is a need in the art for a scoop that not only prevents spills, but also assists facilitates, even enhances, the straining and sifting operations routinely associated with the use of a standard scoop. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present invention provides an improved scoop device that facilitates the removal of waste material and soiled particulate, and the sifting and straining of fresh particulate from the scoop for future use. A scoop according to the present invention includes a slotted scoop portion and an integral handle assembly. A scoop according to the present invention further includes a slidable, slotted sifter plate that cooperates with the slotted scoop portion to facilitate and enhance the sifting and strain operations. The sifter plate is operatively connected to a reciprocating bar that is received and mounted within the handle assembly. The reciprocating bar is also operatively connected to an activator bar that forms a part of the handle assembly. These connections provide an articulation such that when the actuator bar is moved, the reciprocating bar operates to move the slotted sifter plate relative to the scoop portion so as to uncover and cover the slotted openings in the scoop. The action of the sifter plate relative to the scoop facilitates straining and sifting. The activator bar is spring loaded so that it is easily, repeatedly manipulated to effect the desired sifting and straining operations. Thus, not only does the present scoop facilitate removal of soiled litter and waste material, it also prevents spillage and facilitates the straining and sifting operations associated with the scooping and processing of particulate matter. 
         [0012]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved scoop for removing waste material and soiled litter from a litter box. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved scoop with a repeatedly and easily slidable sifter plate. 
         [0014]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved scoop that facilitates the operations of sifting and straining soiled litter and waste material from fresh litter. 
         [0015]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved scoop with an articulating arm assembly that facilitates manipulation of a sift or sifter plate that, in conjunction with the scoop, provides easier, more effective sifting and straining of waste and soiled litter than done using prior art scoops. 
         [0016]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a scoop in accordance with the present invention, showing the sift plate in a first, closed position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the scoop shown in  FIG. 1 , with the handle compressed such that the sift plate is in a second, open position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the scoop shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cut-away view of the scoop shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cut-away, partial view of the scoop shown in  FIG. 1 , specifically showing the reciprocating or contained within the handle assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away view of the device showing in  FIG. 1 , showing the actuator arm distant from the housing and that the sifter plate is in a first, closed position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cut-away view of the device similar to that of  FIG. 6 , showing the actuator arm compressed or moved into the upper housing such that the sifter plate is in a second, open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several figures, an improved scoop according to the present invention is shown generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The scoop  10  of the present invention includes a forward scoop portion  12  and an integrated handle assembly  14 . The forward scoop portion  12  is defined by a floor  16  having a plurality of slots  17  (described in greater detail below) and side walls  18  and  20 . The forward scoop portion  12  further includes a rear wall  24 . The walls  18 ,  20  and  24  project upwardly from the floor  14  and may, if desire, be formed integrally therewith. The walls  18 ,  20  and  24  may be of any suitable configuration so long as they are adequate to return the waste and soiled litter being scooped by a user. As shown in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the side walls  18  and  20  is to provide a tapered or rounded configuration that allows for an easier scooping of particulate material into the forward scoop portion  12  of the device. As also shown in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the rear wall  24  is of sufficient height as to preclude particulate matter or soiled material from spilling out of the forward scoop portion  12 . The rear wall is also preferable sufficient to support the handle assembly  14 . 
         [0025]    The scoop portion floor  16  defines a leading edge  16 ′ and includes plurality of slotted openings  17 . If desired, the leading edge  16 ′ may be beveled to assist in the insertion of the scoop into the particulate matter. The openings  17  may be of any suitable size and configuration. For example, the openings  17  in the scoop portion floor  16  shown in  FIG. 2  are spaced apart one from the other, provided in four longitudinal columns, and aligned so as to form a series of rows that run transverse thereto. This and many other configurations are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Further to  FIG. 1 , the rear wall  24  of the forward scoop portion  12  defines an opening  25 . The opening  25  is formal by walls  33 ,  34  and  35 . The walls  33  and  35  project upwardly from the floor  16  to define the sides of the opening  25 . The forward scoop portion  12  further includes a sift or sifter plate  30  that is configured to and cooperates with the scoop floor  16 . The sifter plate  30  is configured to sit and slide within and between the leading edge  16 ′ of the floor  16  and the walls  18 ,  20  and  24 . The sifter plate  30  defines a plurality slotted openings  32 . It will be appreciated that the sifter plate openings  32  may be of any suitable size and configuration, but are preferably constructed to cooperate with the slotted openings  17  in the floor  16 . The rear portion of the sifter plate  30 , the portion closest to the handle assembly  14 , is integrally formed with a connector  36 . The connector  36  is preferably configured to slide freely back and forth in and through the opening  25  defined in rear wall  24 . As will become apparent, retraction of the connector  36  within the opening  25  will correspondingly slide the sifter plate  30  within the forward scoop portion  16  of the scoop device  10 . To assist in that operation, the side walls  18  and  20  provide a series of detents  40   a - c  and  42   a - c , respectively, to constrain and guide the sifter plate  30 . Thus, the plate  30  is prevented from moving vertically or otherwise being dislodged from the connector  36 . 
         [0027]    The opening  25  defines the mouth of a channel  45 . The connector  36  is configured to fit within the channel  45 . Thus, the sift plate  30  is maintained to slide closely against the floor  16  and the connector  36  remains in a position to travel freely back and forth within the opening  25  defined in the rear wall  25 . At its forward end, the connector  36  is secured to, and may be integrally formed with, the sift plate  30 . At is rearward end, the connector defines two plates  38  and  39  that are operatively secured to the handle assembly  14  as described herein below. The person of ordinary skill will appreciate that the plates or ribs  38 ,  39  also serve to strengthen the connector  36 . 
         [0028]    The handle assembly  14  includes a stationary upper housing  52  and a lower actuator bar  54 . The upper housing  52  may be formed integrally with the rear wall  24  of the forward scoop portion  12 . The upper housing  52  is hollow, defines an upper handle surface  55  and receives the actuator bar  54  as described below. 
         [0029]    The lower actuator bar  54  is an elongated member that extends substantially the length of the upper housing  52  and is attached thereto by means of a fixed pin  56  supported within the upper housing  52 . Described more particularly, the upper housing  52  defines aligned openings  60  and  61  at its rearward end. In like fashion, the actuator bar  54  defines two correspondingly aligned openings  64  and  65  at its rearward end. Pin  56  is configured to extend through opening  60  in the upper housing  52 , opening  64  in the actuator bar  54 , opening  65  in the actuator bar  54  and opening  61  in the upper housing  52 , so that the actuator bar is pivotally secured at its rearward end portion within the stationary upper housing  52 . The actuator bar  54  is first positioned at a position partially removed from the upper housing  52  such that the actuator bar  54  sits and projects below the upper housing  52 . It is to be understood that the actuator bar  54  may be moved to a second position so as to be retracted into the upper housing  52 . Further, the actuator bar  54  is able to be returned to the first position where it is extended outside of or beyond the upper housing  54 . 
         [0030]    Described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 2 , the actuator bar  52  is pivotally secured within the upper handle section  52  by means of the pin  56 . In a first position, the actuator bar  54  is biased away from the upper housing  52  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The handle assembly  14  may be squeezed by a user such that the actuator bar  52  will pivot about the pin  56  and be retracted or nested into the upper housing  52 . The actuator bar  54  is thus moved toward the top surface  55  of the upper handle section  52  by squeezing the handle assembly  14 . To facilitate such manipulation of the actuator bar  54 , its lowest edge may be provided with a series indentations  66   a - d  for receipt of a user&#39;s fingers. Such indentations  66   a - d  guide the user&#39;s hand to a proper position so that the user enjoys a certain leverage in manipulation of the bar  54 .  FIG. 2  shows the actuator bar  15  in a retracted or nested position relative to the upper housing  54 . 
         [0031]    It will be appreciated that depression or movement of the actuator bar  54  into the upper handle section  52  or squeezing the handle assembly  14  causes the sift plate  30  to slide. This action is accomplished by an articulated connection of the actuator bar  54  to the sift plate  30  by means of the connector  36  and a reciprocating arm  70 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the reciprocating arm  70  is L-shaped. At its lower most end, the arm  70  defines and opening  72 . The reciprocating arm defines an upper and forward opening  78  and an upper and rearward opening  80 . At its lower, forward end, the reciprocating arm  70  is secured to connector plates  38  and  39  of the connector  36  by a pivot pin  74  that is positioned within the opening  72  and thereby secured between plates  38  and  39 . Pin  74  is not stationary. By virtue of this connection, a lateral movement of the pivot pin  74  causes the connector  36  and the shift plate  30  to move correspondingly in a lateral direction. 
         [0032]    Opening  78  is provided in the forward, upper position of L-shaped reciprocating arm  70  and defines a pivot point for the reciprocating arm  70  itself. More particularly, the interior walls of the upper handle housing  52  are fitted with mating and integral pin supports, one of which is shown at  85  on  FIG. 5 . The person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a like pin support that mirrors support  85  is provided (but not shown) on the opposing interior wall of the upper housing  52 . A pivot pin  82  is received and supported by the support  85  and its like support on an opposing interior wall of the housing  52 . Pin  82  is maintained in a fixed position within the housing  52  so that the reciprocating arm  70  can pivot about that point. The reciprocating arm  70  further includes an opening  80  through which a pin  90  extends. The pin  90  is secured to an interior portion of the lower actuator bar  54  by a pin support  92 . The pin support  92  is preferably formed as an integral portion of the interior of the lower activator bar  54 . The person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a like pin support that mirrors support  92  is provided (but not shown) on the opposing interior wall of the lower actuator bar  54 . Thus, the pin  90  is fixed to and moves with the actuator bar  54 . When the actuator bar  54  is moved toward (or into) the upper housing  52 , pin  90  is likewise moved upwardly (when positioned as in  FIG. 5 ) in a counter clockwise direction toward the top surface  55  of upper handle section  52  (as shown in  FIG. 5 , generally an upward movement). 
         [0033]    The reciprocating arm  70  is caused to pivot about pin  82 , thereby causing pin  72  to travel laterally toward the rear portion of the handle assembly  14 . Because pin  72  is engaged to the connector  36 , and the connector  36  is engaged to the sift plate  30 , both are correspondingly moved toward the rear of the handle assembly  14 . Hence, hence the sift plate  30  slides toward the rear of the scoop device  10  relative to the front scoop floor  16 . Return of the activator bar  54  to its original position by a downward, clockwise rotation of the pin  90  in reciprocating arm  70  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) causes the pin  72  to move laterally forward and in turn slide the sift plate  30  to an original, first position. The person of ordinary skill will appreciate that because the reciprocating arm  70  rotates about the pin  82 , the openings  72  and  80  do not move in a straight line. Rather, the openings  72  and  80  will traverse an arc. Thus, the openings  72  and  80  may be elongated or slotted to accommodate substantially straight-line lateral movement of the pin  74  and substantially straight-line vertical movement of the pin  90 . 
         [0034]    The reciprocating arm  70  includes a stop extension  95  that operates to limit the travel of the activator bar  54  away from the upper housing  52 . The stop extension  95  projects forwardly of the reciprocating arm  70  a sufficient distance to engage the rear wall  24  and thus stop movement of the actuator bar  54  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Conversely, travel of the actuator bar  54  into the upper housing  52  is limited by an internal stop surface  99  of the upper housing (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The top surface  55  of the actuator  54  contacts the surface  99  to stop its movement into the upper housing  52 . 
         [0035]    The handle assembly  14  further includes a spring  100  that is provided in a cavity  102  within said assembly. The spring  100  may be a compression spring. However, the person or ordinary skill will recognize that other types of springs, such as a leaf or tension spring, could be adapted for use in the invention. The top end of the spring  100  is constrained by a ceiling  104  of the cavity  102 , which is a portion of the housing  52 . The lower end of the spring  100  is constrained by a floor  106  of the cavity  102 , which is a portion of the actuator bar  54 . The spring is biased to urge the actuator bar  54  away from the upper housing  52 . Thus, when at rest, the actuator bar  52  is maintained in a first extended position such that the actuator bar is extended from an outside of the housing  54 . When a user squeezes the handle assembly  14 , the actuator bar  54  is moved into or forcible retracted into the housing  52  to a second position and the spring  100  is compressed. When the user releases the actuator bar  54 , the spring  100  bar causes the actuator  54  to return to its first original position. As described above, such as a result of the articulating action of the connector  35 , the reciprocating arm  70  and the pin  90  fixed to the actuator arm  54 , manipulation of the actuator bar  54  slides the sift plate  30 . The first position of the actuator bar  54  preferably defines a closed position of the sift plate  30 , and the second position of the actuator bar  54  (fully retracted within the housing  52 ) preferable defines an open position of the sift plate  30 . It will be appreciated that by virtue of the spring  100 , mere release of the actuator bar  54  will allow and cause it to return to its original, first position. 
         [0036]    The upper housing  52  and the actuator bar  54  are preferably configured to permit smooth working of the reciprocating arm  70 . Thus, for example, an opening  102  is provided in the forward bottom portion of the bar  54  to accommodate the rearward portions of the connector plates  38 ,  39 , the pin  72  and the lower portion of the reciprocating arm  70  can travel rearwardly without interruption. Similarly, the upper wall of the lower actuator bar  54  may be configured so that it does not contact the bar. In one embodiment, the walls of the lower activator bar are forced to have a cut-out section so that the arm  54  will not contact or be interrupted by the fixed supports  85 . 
         [0037]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description of the embodiments are written to the person of ordinary skill in the art, who may make various modifications thereto that are within the scope of the invention as defined by the below and within claims.