Abstract:
The pick-up device provides an elongated hollow cylindrical body including a handle at one end and a bail arrangement at the other end. The handle includes a trigger mechanism extending through the hollow body and terminating in a crank coupling the pair of bails in the bail assembly, so that one bail is fixed and the other bail is movable with respect to the fixed bail. The body includes a roller upon which a supply of litter bags is placed, and the body includes an elongated slot with finger openings so that a single bag from the supply can be withdrawn from the roll, separated from the roll, and installed on the pair of bails in the bail arrangement. A cable is employed for releasably actuating the bail and mechanism is provided for rotatably mounting the handle and trigger mechanism onto one end of the body so that the handle can be rotated as to expose the aft end of the body permitting a new roll of bags to be installed. Alternately, a bag supply cartridge may be installed through the side of the body.

Description:
Priority claimed on Ser. No. 60/404,474 filed Aug. 20, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of pick-up devices for animal litter, trash or the like, and more particularly to a pick-up device having foldable or rotatable portions enabling the device to be arranged in a compact manner for commercial displays, and which further includes a trigger mechanism having a bail lock, and a storage compartment for holding a quantity of bags used in the procedure of animal litter or trash pick-up. 
   2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
   In the past, it has been a conventional practice to provide pick-up devices for automatically grabbing and holding animal litter, trash or the like. Problems and difficulties have been encountered with such conventional devices because components of the device extend outwardly from the main body of the device so that it is difficult to arrange the device for commercial display in the marketplace or to be forwarded through a mail service. Conventional pick-up devices are not compact and are generally not suitable for commercial display. Furthermore, most prior pick-up devices do not have a bail locking means for preventing premature release of a loaded collection bag which is generally carried on the device. Also, it is difficult for the user to release the bag for ultimate disposal in a refuse container or the like. Still a further problem when employing conventional trash or animal litter pick-up devices resides in providing a supply of bags, such as a roll of bags, in the body of the device itself so that the bags and the device provide a unitary construction and the bags are available for use without the user having to store the bags in a remote location. The bags should be stored on a roll and means should be provided for permitting the bags to be pulled from storage and separated on an individual basis for usage. 
   Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a novel animal litter or trash pick-up device, which includes a storage arrangement for a multiple bag supply and which will permit removal of an individual bag from the supply for assembly onto spreadable bails carried on the device. Also, a releasable locking mechanism should be included for controlling the bail separation mechanism. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides an elongated hollow cylindrical body which includes a handle at one end and a bail arrangement at the other end. The handle includes a trigger mechanism having means extending through the hollow body and terminating in a crank means coupling the pair of bails in the bail assembly, so that one is fixed and the other is movable with respect to the fixed bail. The body further includes means for releasably storing a roller upon which the supply of litter bags are placed, and the body includes an elongated slot with finger openings so that a single bag from the supply can be withdrawn from the roll, separated from the roll, and installed on the pair of bails in the bail arrangement. A cable means is employed for releasably actuating the bail and means are provided for rotatably mounting the handle and trigger mechanism onto one end of the body so that the handle can be rotated as to expose the aft end of the body so a new roll of bags can be inserted. Therefore, no component of the device is awkwardly extending from the device when the device is in a compact, storage or display position. 
   Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel animal litter or trash pick-up device, which includes a supply of litter bags carried on a roll within the body of the device, and wherein separate bags of the plurality may be withdrawn at the selection of the user. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel animal litter or trash pick-up device having a suitable locking mechanism for controlling the deployment of a bail arrangement, having a bag installed thereon to prevent premature release of a loaded or filled bag, whereby there is no spillage of litter or trash and whereby the entire bag containing litter or trash can readily be disposed into a disposal trash container. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanism for permitting 90° rotation of the bail mount assembly mechanism with respect to the supporting body so that the pick-up device can be shipped or displayed in a compact arrangement. 
   A further object of the invention resides in providing not only a rotational lock for the bail mount assembly and a bail lock but a bag lock to prevent the bag from falling off the bails before expanding the bail arrangement. 
   A further object resides in providing a body lock for the pick-up device, having a stop and slot arrangement, wherein the body and handle are joined and held in a locked position by a longitudinal extension of the body assembly which fits into the handle assembly and is held in position by cable tension. 
   Still a further object of the present invention resides in providing a storage compartment in the body of a animal litter or trash pick-up device, which will hold a quantity of bags which are specifically designed for various sizes of trash or animal waste pick-up and wherein the bag size is selected to fit over the respective open bail envelope of the bail arrangement. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the novel animal litter, waste or trash pick-up device illustrating the bail arrangement closed and illustrating a rolled supply of bags in a position preparatory for assembly with the body of the device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the animal litter and trash pick-up device shown in  FIG. 1 , having a portion broken away to illustrate the internal bag storage compartment and assembly of a selected bag over the bail arrangement; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the animal litter and trash pick-up device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view of the trigger mechanism and the bail assembly employed in the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the assembly of various components comprising the animal litter and waste pick-up device incorporating the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of another version of the device showing a side loading arrangement for installing or removing a cartridge containing a supply of bags. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the novel animal litter and trash pick-up device is indicated in the general direction of arrow  10  which includes an elongated body  11  having a handle  12  rotatably carried on one end of the body so as to be adapted for rotation to the right or the left, as indicated by numeral  13 . The handle  12  includes a trigger  14  for operating a bail assembly illustrated in the direction of arrow  15 . A conduit  16  carries a movable cable (not shown) which interconnects the trigger  14  with a movable bail  17  in the bail assembly  15 . A fixed bail  18  is carried on a bail head  20  which is rotatable in either direction as indicated by numeral  21 . The fixture  20  is rotatably carried on the end of the body  11 , opposite from the end carrying handle  12 . Therefore, it can be seen that the bail assembly  15  can be rotated so as to be in parallel relationship with the handle, constituting a display or storage or transportation position, and when rotated as illustrated in solid lines in  FIG. 1 , the device is in its operative position for usage. 
   When operated, the trigger  14  is pulled into the handle  12  by the user&#39;s hand and via the cable in conduit  16 , the movable bail is positioned to the position shown in broken lines. The cable is connected to one end of a lever  22  which has its opposite end connected to a crank  23  serving as a cross-member between the end of the bail  17 . Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , a pick-up bag is placed over the bail assembly  15  prior to operation of the movable bail which, when operated, would expand the bag for engagement with animal droppings or trash, followed by closing of the bail assembly to capture such litter or trash within the bag and whereby with removal of the bag from the bail assembly in a loaded condition, it can then be discarded into a trash container. Such a pick-up procedure is described in prior art patents issued to the present applicant, and a description as disclosed therein is incorporated into the present disclosure. A releasable lock for holding the bag onto the bail assembly is indicated by numeral  24 . 
   Referring further to  FIG. 1 , a major feature of the invention resides in installing a plurality of pick-up bags  25  carried on a roller  26  designed specifically to fit into a storage compartment  27  in the body  11 . The body includes an elongated slot  28  and a pair of cut-outs  30  and  31 , whereby the user can place his fingers therein for grasping a portion of the exposed bag and manually pulling the bag through the slot  28 . Once the bag has been exposed from the body  11 , the bag can be separated from the supply and installed on the bail assembly or arrangement  15 . The roller  26  includes a disk, such as disk  32 , carried on a spindle  33 , carried on opposite ends of the roller  26 . The roller and supply of bags thereon can be introduced through the end of the body  11  by rotating the handle  12  so as to open the end of the body, the entrance to the storage compartment or cavity is available for insertably receiving the roller and bags. Numeral  35  shows a tuft or collection of the outermost bag in the supply caused by gathering of the material when the user&#39;s fingers are inserted through the cutouts  30  and  31  and portion  35  is grasped and gathered by the user preparatory for pulling the uppermost bag from the roll. The roller  26  will rotate on the spindle  33  within the housing  11 . 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the roll of bags  25  is placed within the storage compartment  27  in the body  11  and that a portion of a bag is pulled outwardly toward the slot  28  by the user. Once the bag has been extracted and separated from the bulk supply on the roller, the selected and separated bag can then be placed over the bails  17  and  18 , as shown in broken lines, and represented by numeral  36 . The open end of the bag is introduced to the extreme terminating ends of the bails and the bails are inserted into the interior of the bag with the mouth of the bag terminating about portion  37  of the fixture  20 . An edge marginal region of the mouth of the bag is placed under the clamp  24  serving as a lock for releasably holding the bag in position on the bail arrangement. The lock  24  is slightly raised for insertion of the edge marginal region of the mouth of the bag to be inserted over a nub  38  followed by release of the lock which clamps the bag to the fixture  20 . 
   It can also be seen that the conduit or channel  16  encloses a cable  40  which extends from the trigger mechanism  14  to the crank  23  of the bail  17  via the lever  22 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the crank  23  of bail  17  connected to one end of the lever  22  with the opposite end of the lever connected to the end of cable  40 . The opposite end of the cable  40  terminates with the trigger  14  of the trigger mechanism whereby the trigger  14  pivots about a pivot connected with the handle  12 , as represented by numeral  41  in  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the spindle  33  of the roller  26  is captured at each end by a disk  32 . The disks  32  adjacent to the fixtures A 1 , A 2  is recessed in a tapered compartment  42 . The extreme ends of spindle  33  are inserted into bores  44  in the body  11 , and  44 A in the handle. 
   It can be seen that the fixture  20  can be rotated with respect to the end of body  11  by means of a pin  45  traveling within a slot  46  in the fixture  20 . The pin  45  is attached to the body while the slot is in the fixture and the fixture can rotate either right or left, as indicated by numeral  21  in  FIG. 1 . 
   With respect to rotation of the handle  12  in the direction of arrow  13  in  FIG. 1 , it is noted that the body includes a slot  47  for receiving a pin  48  which is carried on the handle  12 . It can also be seen that the body and handle can be easily extended in opposite directions and by rotating the handle so that the pin  48  rides in an opening  50 . Therefore, the handle can be rotated 90° so that a replacement roll of bags  25  can be inserted. 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 5 , it can be seen that the pin  45  can be rotated within the slot  46  while the pin  48 , shown in  FIG. 4 , is within the slot  47 . The end disks  32  on the spindle  33  serves to provide stops for mounting the spindle in the end of handle  12  and the end of fixture  20  or the end of body  11  respectively. 
   Therefore, in view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the animal litter or waste pick-up device of the present invention provides a means for storing a plurality of bags that can be selectively removed from the body of the device at the selection of the user. Once the bag has been separated from the bulk material on the spindle, the separated bag can be opened and can insertably receive the bails  17  and  18  while the bails are in a closed position. Upon securement of the edge marginal region of the bag with the lock or clamp  24 , the device is now ready for use. Upon squeezing of handle  12  to pivot trigger  14 , the movable bail  17  will outwardly deploy while inside the bag to stretch the bottom of the bag between the ends of the bails  17  and  18 . The deployment of the bail  17  is achieved by means of the cable  40  which operates the lever  22  and works the crank  23 . A spring  90 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , places a bias on the lever  22  urging the nub  38  into a clamping position with the lock  24  to retain the bag in position. Trash or litter may now be picked up by the bails by placing the bottom of the bag as stretched outwardly by deployment of the bails and placing this portion of the bag over the litter or waste. Upon release of the trigger, the spring-biased bail  17  will close over the litter and waste that has been captured by the bag, folding the bag back over upon itself to completely capture the waste or litter within the bag so that the bag may now be destroyed or disposed in a trash container or the like. For storage or shipment or even display of the device, the bail mount assembly may be rotated so that it is in a parallel relationship with the handle, and therefore provides an elongated, relatively flat and unencumbered configuration. 
   Another version of the inventive device is shown in  FIG. 6  in the direction of arrow  150  and is similar in construction to the previously described device  10  with the following three exceptions. The body  51  and handle  52  are molded together and split into two pieces for ease of production. The device  150  is constructed of a two-piece handle  52  and a one-piece body  51  internally joined at a junction  54  that can be extended and rotated. 
   Another exception is that the main feature of the device  50  which is distinguishable from the previously described device  10  is the use of a disposal cartridge  55  containing a supply of bags  56 . Each independent cartridge is constructed of a light-weight material that includes an elongated slot and contains a roll of disposable bags. These cartridges are designed to “snap” into the top portion of the body  50  via an elongated channel  57 . When installed, each cartridge is flush with the exterior surface of the body so that the lines of the installed cartridge will match with the lines of the body  50 . The bags are rolled on a core, inserted and locked into the open bottom of each cartridge during a manufacturing procedure. These cartridges are to be made available to the user as an economical disposable unit. The bags are constructed of plastic, paper or other suitable material. The overall length of the device  50  shown in  FIG. 6  is shorter than the previously described device  10 , which is made possible by the use of the disposal bag cartridges. 
   The operation of the device  50  shown in  FIG. 6  is nearly the same as the previously described version. The bail mount housing rotates 90° along a longitudinal axis, parallel to the handle for packaging and storage and perpendicular for operation as described with respect to the earlier version. The disposable cartridge  55  is inserted and “snapped” into the open top portion or channel of the body by the user. The snap relationship is made possible by means of resilient lock tabs  60  and  61 , carried on the opposite ends of the cartridge, which when the cartridge is pressed into the channel  57 , snaps into respective holes in the body, such as hole  62  with respect to tab  60 . Each end of the cartridge has identical lock tabs, allowing quick locking and releasing. A bag is then pulled through the opening slot  63  in the top of the cartridge by use of the user&#39;s thumb and index finger, and the selected bag is then inserted on the closed bails, as previously described with respect to device  10 . 
   When the bags are depleted, the user simply uses a finger or thumb to unlock the cartridge tabs which is then released and discarded into a refuge bin. To replace the cartridge, the user simply acquires a new cartridge and inserts the cartridge into the open area of the body. The cartridge is then “snapped” into place by the lock tabs on each end which firmly holds the new cartridge in position for immediate use. 
   While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.