Abstract:
A scoop for conveniently picking up waste, such as dog feces, is constructed from a single sheet of thin material and developed into a trough shape with a rearwardly directed handle. The scoop configuration is of a shape which allows a plurality of scoops to be nested together in a convenient package.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to disposable scoops suitable for removal of dog feces. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has now come to pass that through either legal, ethical or moral requirements, disposal of dog feces in a clean and least unobtrusive manner is desirable. Apparatus which facilitates such fecal matter removal in a convenient manner is also desirable. Notwithstanding the aforesaid use, the subject invention is suitable for alternative similar uses such as the removal of vomit and other biological, or chemical disposables. 
     In the disposal of undesirable waste products, it is particularly desirable to isolate the offensive waste products from contact with the person performing the disposing process. In addition, the devices used to remove the waste may become soiled or contaminated posing an unsanitary condition in and of itself. It is therefore of particular importance to have the ability to obtain an inexpensive, disposable receptacle which effectively isolates the receptacle&#39;s contents from the hand of the user. 
     In the manufacturing process of a disposable scoop, it is desirable to utilize the least material and create the least material waste. By eliminating material waste, a manufacturing cost is eliminated making the product less expensive to manufacture. It is additionally desirable to fabricate a product which may be nested together, one inside another, which in turn facilitates transportation and storage of the product in desirable quantities. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an implement which can easily and effectively scoop waste matter, such as dog feces and do so without the need for an additional aid such as a paddle. 
     It is also an object of the invention to create a scoop having geometry which will effectively hold waste contents in a manner least likely to contact the hands of the user. 
     It is still further an object of the invention to form such implement in a cost effective manner from a single sheet of material while leaving the least amount of material waste. 
     The invention is developed from a single sheet of substantially rectangular material, such as cardboard, by folding along pre-depressed fold lines to form a substantially rectangular shaped trough. A rear portion of the trough formed from the resulting folds is then fastened together by means of a staple or adhesive. Fractured portions of the rear wall of the trough are folded rearwardly to form handles to manipulate the invention. 
     The resulting configuration produces a device in the form of a scoop having side and rear walls. Integrally formed handles are angled to facilitate a downward force component on the front of the scoop to assist in gathering waste products. 
     Additional objects and features of the invention will be evident from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank showing slits and fold lines, developable into a scoop; 
     FIG. 1A is a plan view of a blank showing the location of adhesive material. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention prior to the deployment of the integrated handles; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention with the integrated handles partially deployed; and 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention with the integrated handles fully deployed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a thin rectangular blank  10 , preferably formed of a corrugated cardboard material, embodies the invention. Blank  10  incorporates slits  11  and  12  and respective fold lines  13  and  14 . Said fold lines extend from the terminus of respective slits  11  and  12  to side  16 . A third fold line  17  extends from opposite sides of blank  10  through the terminus of respective slits  11  and  12  forming substantially rectangular tabs  29  and  30 . Handles  18  and  19  are formed from the resulting blank portions created by respective Slits  20  and  21  and slits  22  and  23 . Fold lines  24  and  25  respectively form the junction about which handles  18  and  19  are folded. Additional fold lines  26  and  27  located along respective handles  18  and  19  permit the outermost portion of handles  18  and  19  to be joined together. A fold line  28 , located above handles  18  and  19 , forms a border of resulting tab  31 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2, sides  32  and  33  are erected along respective fold lines  13  and  14 . Tabs  29  and  30  are folded along associated portions of fold line  17  to substantially right angles with respective sides  32  and  33 . Blank  10  is thereafter folded along the remaining portion of fold line  17  at substantially right angles forming a three sided trough. Tab  31  is folded along fold line  28  over tabs  29  and  30 . 
     With reference to FIG. 3, handles  18  and  19  are folded rearwardly along respective fold lines  24  and  25 . A portion of the aforesaid handles are brought into intimate touching relationship by folding along respective fold lines  26  and  27  as depicted in FIG.  4 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a symmetrically shaped blank  10  of corrugated cardboard or other similar material having fold lines  13  and  14  is formed into a substantially rectangular trough by first folding the outermost portions of blank  10  along said fold lines, inwardly and to right angles to form sides  32  and  33  (FIG.  2 ). Thereafter, tabs  29  and  30  are each folded along associated portions of fold line  17 , at substantially right angles to respective sides  32  and  33 . The rear portion of blank  10  is then folded to a substantially right angle along the remaining portion of fold line  17 . Tab  31  is then folded along fold line  28  over tabs  29  and  30  and fastened to the adjacent portion of blank  10 . One preferable means of fastening tab  31  is through the use of a staple  34  as shown in FIG.  2 . Although a staple is used as the fastening device, other fastening means such as adhesive  35  can be used. 
     Handles  18  and  19  are deployed from blank  10  by folding along respective fold lines  24  and  25  to substantially  90  degree angles from their initial position, rearwardly, in opposite directions, to form the means by which the scoop is preferably held. Portions of handles  18  and  19  are placed in touching relationship by folding respective ones of these handles along fold lines  26  and  27 . Handles  18  and  19  are angularly disposed with respect to the base of the resultant rectangular trough facilitating a downward force to rectangular base edge  16 . When the resultant scoop is moved forward along the plane in which the disposable matter is located, the downward force on the forward edge of the scoop aids in the capture of waste material. The waste matter captured in the scoop is then kept away from the operator&#39;s hand by virtue of the vertically disposed rear wall of the scoop formed by folded side  31  which forms an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the base of the scoop. 
     To facilitate transportation and packaging of the scoop, a large plurality of scoops may be nested together one in the other. In this manner, a minimum of space will be utilized for their packaging and transport.