Abstract:
An animal waste collection system ( 10 ) designed for sanitary use consists of a hollow shaft ( 14 ), handle ( 12 ), light ( 70 ), a pair of resilient, curved arms ( 22, 24 ) and a plurality if self sealing bags ( 40 ). The operator of the device ( 10 ) initially loads a plastic bag ( 40 ) onto arms ( 22, 24 ) before walking the dog. When the animal shows signs of excreting, the bag ( 40 ) is placed under the rear of the animal to intercept the feces. Once the animal is finished excreting, the operator partially retracts the arms ( 22, 24 ), closing the bag ( 40 ), and walks to a disposal receptacle where the arms ( 22, 24 ) are then fully retracted and the sealed bag ( 40 ) is released.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/820,268 entitled “Intercept: Dog Feces Collector” filed on Jul. 25, 2006 the entire contents and substance of which are hereby incorporated in total by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention deals with the sanitary collection and disposal of animal feces and whose basic principles are to intercept the feces with a bag before it reaches the ground, and provide a sanitary manner to seal and dispose of the bag. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     According to the Humane Society of the United States there are “approximately 73 million dogs owned in the United States”. Animal waste, and dog waste in particular, creates pollution to the environment especially in urban areas where bacterial contamination can pose health risks to humans and other animals. The present invention helps alleviate this problem. It is a light weight device which is easy and sanitary to use and is environmentally friendly. The operator does not have to come in close contact with the fecal matter or handle the bag once the feces is in it. The invention is, therefore, very hygienic and convenient for the user and will encourage greater compliance of pooper scooper laws. Fines for breaking these laws in most cities can be up to $150. 
     Prior attempts have been made to solve this important problem of collecting canine fecal matter in a sanitary manner. However, they all appear to have shortcomings. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,268 includes a drawing showing a dog standing up and excreting into a device held inches from the ground. Dogs usually squat before and while defecating, placing their rear very close to the ground. This fact makes the use of this device very cumbersome. The operator would have trouble getting it into a functional position under the dog. Another important point is how securely the bag is mounted on to the device. Without a robust method of securing the bag, it could easily fall off the device as the dog moves around. In addition the operator would have to put the device down and use two hands to tie the bag before disposal. This can be difficult while at the same time controlling a dog on a leash. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,050 describes a system requiring a bag to completely open up flat on the ground to catch the animal waste. But once opened, the bag is too big to be centrally placed under a dog without touching its hind legs. The only possible placement would result with the waste landing on the edge of the opened bag, which may cause it to easily fall off. The present invention, however, allows the user to place the bag squarely under the rump of the dog without any interference to the animal. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,290 describes a device that requires the user to physically remove the bag from the device and seal it. The present invention, however, closes and seals the bag without the need of the user to touch the bag, keeping the process completely sanitary and hygienic. The mention of a wheel in a possible embodiment to support the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,290 implies its weight might be more than desirable for a long walk with a dog. 
     Of possible general, but probably lesser, relevance are the inventions described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,852,924, 5,683,129, 5,718,469, 5,971,452, 6,039,370, 6,386,606 6,554,335, 6,471,267, 6,485,073 and 6,702,349. 
     The principle shortcoming of the prior art is that the user must handle the bag containing the dog excrement in order to remove it from the device and seal it before disposal. These tasks can be unsanitary, cumbersome, and somewhat difficult while at the same time controlling a dog on a leash. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, the invention, also referred to herein as the “Intercept”, is a sanitary system for collecting animal waste. It is comprised of a bag that is designed to fit on to the arms of the apparatus. This apparatus holds, seals, and disposes of the bag. Once the bag is loaded on to the apparatus, the user does not have to touch it again. In addition, it is easy for the user to place the invention under the animal while excreting. 
     The device consists of a hollow shaft or tube with a handle at one end and an oval shaped set of arms at the other. The arms hold a plastic bag, which is later closed and sealed by retracting the arms into the tube. The bag is finally released into a waste receptacle once the arms are fully retracted. To assist with the collection of feces at night there is a LED a the tip of the tube close to the bag which is controlled by a switch in the handle. This clearly illuminates the area where the dog is excreting. 
     The arms are made of a material that retains a memory of its initial oval shape, and will return to that shape once the arms are extended from the tube. The bag has 2 to 2½ inch sleeves to the left and the right of the opening at the top through which the arms of the invention are threaded. When the slider is moved along the tube this controls the opening and closing of the device. The bag&#39;s adhesive strip on the top inner edge creates a seal, isolating the waste even after it leaves the device. It also helps contain the odor of the feces. Overall the device is easy to manufacture and market and economical sound for pet owners. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention may be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention with the arms in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 1B  shows the device with the arms extended. 
         FIG. 1C  is a detailed view of the tip of the invention with the arms in the position for loading the bag. 
         FIG. 2A  shows the arms component apart from the device. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the tip that is attached to the tube with the opening for an LED. 
         FIG. 2C  is a front view of the tip showing the openings for the arms and the opening for an LED. 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates a bag suitable for use with this invention. 
         FIG. 3A  demonstrates how a user would load the bag. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the second step of how a user would load the bag. 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates the bag fully loaded onto the device. 
         FIG. 3D  shows a user peeling off the covering of the adhesive strip. 
         FIG. 3E  is a top perspective view showing an open bag supported by the retractable arms. 
         FIG. 3F  demonstrates the ability of the arms of the device to be pressed flat to the ground. 
         FIG. 3G  shows the bag with collected material inside the body of the bag. 
         FIG. 3H  illustrates the bag being closed while the arms are being retracted 
         FIG. 3I  shows the completely closed bag with the arms retracted to the ‘transport’ position. 
         FIG. 3J  demonstrates how the fully retracted arms release the bag from the device into the disposal receptacle. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates electronics of the invention which controls the LED. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     During the course of this description like numbers will be used to identify like elements according to the different views which illustrate the invention. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1A  and will be further described in  FIG. 1B  through  FIG. 4 . The invention  10  is a system for the sanitary collection of animal waste which is comprised of self sealing bags  40  and a device  10  to hold, close and seal them. 
       FIG. 1A  is an underside view of the preferred embodiment of the invention  10  with the arms  26  in a retracted position. A slider  16  fits around the hollow shaft or tube  14 , and is connected through the slot  18  to the arms  26  with a pin  78 . The tip  20  spreads the arms  26  so that the bag  40  can be easily loaded, and also peels off the bag  40  as the arms are retracted back into the tube  14 . A handle  12  is attached to the other side of the tube  14  and encases lithium batteries  72  and an on/off switch  74 . The tube  14  is approximately eighteen inches in length and is preferably made of an anodized 6061 aluminum alloy, synthetic fiber, plastic, or other alloys of aluminum. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates the topside of the invention  10  with the arms  26  (L 22 ,R 24 ) extended. The arms  26  are made of a acetal resin engineering plastic known as Delrin®, manufactured by Dupont. To help the arms retain their oval shape, the Delrin® is mixed with a percentage of glass in the 10 to 25 percent range. The preferable size of the oval formed by the arms is approximately seven inches long by five inches wide. 
       FIG. 1C  is a detailed view of the tip  20  showing a hook  80  and the arms  26  in a position ready for loading the bag  40  onto the device  10 . The hook  80  is used to hold the bag  40  while the user extends the arms  26  through its sleeves  46  and  48 . 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the complete arms component  26  apart from the device. It consists of a shaft  28  which attaches to the slider  16  on the outside of the tube  14 , two arms  22  and  24 , and a guide  30  to help the movement of the arms  26  through the tube  14 . 
       FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the tip component  20  with a base  32  that is attached to the tube  14 , an LED  70 , and the hook  80  at the top that is used to hold the bag  40  during loading. 
       FIG. 2C  is a front view of the tip  20  showing the two openings  36  &amp;  38  through which the arms  22  and  24 , respectively pass. The wedge between the openings  34  which is responsible for spreading the arms are also shown. 
       FIG. 2D  illustrates the preferred embodiment of the bag  40  and its features. It is made of Polyethylene plastic, or another material which may or may not be biodegradable. At either side of the opening  44  at the top are sleeves  46  and  48  approximately 2 to 2½ inches deep with openings  50  and  52  at one end, and  54  and  56  at the other. A strip of adhesive  58  with its covering  60  is located at the top inner edge of the bag  40 . The preferred size of the body of the bag  40  is seven inches deep and eleven inches long when laying flat. The opening at the top of the bag  44  is approximately seven inches in diameter when opened. 
       FIG. 3A through 3J  illustrates how the user would prepare and use the invention  10 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows the user beginning to load the plastic bag  40  onto invention  10 . This is done by threading each of the sleeves&#39; openings  54  and  56  onto the arms  22  and  24  which are extended approximately one inch from the tube. The loop at the end of the bag  40  is placed over the hook  80 . 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates the user pushing the slider  16  downwards in the direction of arrow  66  with one hand while they hold the handle or shaft  14  of invention  10  with the other. This action extends the arms  22  and  24  through the complete length of the sleeves  46  and  48  and fully loads the bag  40  on to the device  10 . At this point the end of the bag  40  is removed from the hook  80 . 
       FIG. 3C  shows the bag  40  fully loaded onto the extended arms  22  and  24  with the bag  40  now opened  44  in preparation for use. 
       FIG. 3D  illustrates the user peeling off the protective cover  60  of the adhesive strip  58  at the top inside edge of the bag  40 , completing the preparation for use. The adhesive strip  58  creates an odor proof seal with maximum isolation of the waste once the bag is closed with the device. 
       FIG. 3E  illustrates how the prepared device  10  with the open bag  44  would be held once the animal shows signs of excreting. The bag  40  is placed under the rear of the animal to intercept the feces before it reaches the ground. 
       FIG. 3F  is a side elevational view of the device with the loaded bag  40  just before use. The users would complete this preparation before walking the dog, and then carry the loaded device along with them. This exemplary depiction also shows an angle A between the shaft&#39;s  14  long central axis and the extended arms  22 ,  24  which allow more natural positioning of said bag  40  to intercept animal waste. In an embodiment of the invention, angle A lies in the range of 5-15 degrees. 
       FIG. 3G through 3I  illustrates how the user would close the bag  40  after collecting the feces. This is done by moving the slider  16  towards the handle  12 , retracting the arms  22  and  24  to a position approximately three inches outside the tube, causing the bag to close and the adhesive  58  to stick on the opposite side of the bag  40 , sealing it. The device  10  is now ready to transport the feces to a disposal receptacle. 
       FIG. 3J  demonstrates the disposal of the bag  40  containing the feces. The slider  16  is moved all the way towards the handle  12 , retracting the arms  22  and  24  completely into the tube  14  thus releasing the sealed bag  40  into the waste receptacle. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the electronic aspect of the invention  10 . It consists of two 3.5 volt lithium batteries  72 , a tactile switch  74  housed in the handle  12  and a wire  76  which runs through the body of the shaft  14  and connects the lithium batteries  72  and switch  74  in the handle  12  with the LED  70  in the tip. The illumination from the LED  70  component provides a convenient way to use the device at night. 
     The invention  10  has been described with specific embodiments, however, many variations, modifications etc. can be made by those skilled in the art. For example, the handle  12 , arms  26  and hollow tube  14  may be made of alternate materials such as synthetic fiber, plastic, and other types of aluminum. In addition, the bag  40  may also be made from a variety of materials, some of which may be biodegradable. This invention  10  is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
     The invention  10  just described has many distinct advantages over prior art. It is made of light weight materials, is easy to manufacture and market, and economically practical for pet owners. It embodies a hygienic and sanitary manner of disposing fecal matter. It appears that many prior art would need two operators: one to care for the dog while the other tends to the releasing and tying of the bag before disposal. The invention  10  is time saving as the bag  40  can be loaded on the device  10  in a matter of seconds, and easily released with a pull of the slider  16 . The invention also allows for the dog owner to conveniently walk their dog while using the device  10 . The invention  10  also protects the device itself from being soiled while in use. The invention  10  embodies environmentally friendly features which are advantageous to humans and other animals and protects the environment from animal waste pollution. Because of its ease of use it promotes greater compliance of Pooper Scooper Laws especially in urban environments. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications can be made to the structure and elements of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as a whole.