Abstract:
Manually operated device for collecting animal feces as well as leading animals, e.g. dogs. This device is provided with a container in its lower section with grip-like flaps which can be swung in- and outwards with a collecting bag attached. In their open position the flaps will be placed over the feces, which are collected by closing the flaps. Within the device there is a retracting mechanism with a release position for the clean disposal of the feces, and in the upper section of the box there is an extendable dog-leash.

Description:
The present invention relates to a manually operated device for the collection and disposal of animal feces. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With one familiar device of this kind (DE-OS 29 41 356), the collector ha an upper section closed at the sides and open to the bottom, fitted at its longitudinal edges with hinged flaps bent on the inside. The flaps, which form grippingmeans, bound in closed position at the bottom a roughly semicylindrical chamber open at the front, overlapping at their free horizontal edges. The upper section of the collector is fitted with a clamping device for the upper closed end of a single bag, whose lower free end can be turned up around the gripping means to the outside. When using the device, feces located on the ground are transferred to the inside of the bag straddling the lower end of the device by closing motion of the gripping means. 
     A device of this type is difficult to handle after picking up the feces, and until the used bag has been removed, there is a danger of outer parts of the bag near the free edges of the gripping means, which pass over the ground foulded by the feces when picking up the same, being soiled by remains of feces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is based on the task of constructing a manually operated device of the type described above which is particularly easy to handle and avoids the danger of fouling. 
     With the manually operated device in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to pull external soiled parts of the bag into the collector after picking up the feces by lifting the closed rear end of the bag. At the same time, the rear end of the bag moves into a release position while being lifted, from which the bag can fall out of the container inside the collector under the force of gravity when the gripping means are opened and into a suitable disposal receptacle. Neither the collector nor the user thereof runs the risk of being soiled until a used bag is ejected, so that the device can be handled in a very hygienic and user-friendly manner without particular attention having to be paid thereto not only before but also after picking up the feces and until ejection of a used bag. 
     Numerous further details are given in the follow description and the drawing, in which two embodiments of the object of the present invention are schematically illustrated in more detail. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the device in accordance with FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a truncated section view of the device taken along the line III--III of FIG. 1 with gripping means in open condition; 
     FIG. 4 is a truncated sectional view taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a truncated detailed view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a modified version; 
     FIG. 6 is a truncated sectional view taken along the line VI--VI of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a bag adapted in its dimensions and design to the manually operated device; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a simplified view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a modified further version; 
     FIG. 10 is a truncated sectional view taken along the line X--X of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a truncated cutout view of a modified fastening element for fixing the bag; and 
     FIG. 12 is a truncated sectional view taken along the line XII--XII of FIG. 11. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The manually operated device shown in the drawing for the disposal of animal feces or similar materials comprises a collector 1, which for its part comprises in its upper section a handle 2 with handle recess 3 located thereunder and in its lower section two flaps or gripping means 4,5 which can be swung inwards and outwards. 
     Collector 1 consists preferably of two half sections 6,7 which adjoin each other along a connecting plane 8 coinciding with the longitudinal centre plane of the device and are interconnected, for example, by means of a suitable screw connection or snap-in locking device not illustrated in more detail. The half sections 6,7 are appropriately designed as relatively thin-walled injection-moulded plastic parts, for example of PVC, polyethylene or polyurethane. 
     Both half sections 6,7 bound between themselves a space to accommodate further components to be described in more detail of collector 1, and gripping means 4,5 of collector 1 bound a container 9 for feces closed at the bottom and at the sides. For this purpose, gripping means 4,5 are designed as U-shaped shells in the horizontal section and L-shaped shells in the vertical section, which in closed condition are adjacent at their edges facing each other and are essentially a flush continuation of the upper section of the collector. 
     Gripping means 4,5 may, as shown, be separate injection-moulded plastic parts connected in hinged fashion around axes 10,11 to the upper section of the collector. Instead, however, the gripping means may also form an integral part of half sections 6,7, in which case the axes of the gripping means take the form of a hinge. Such a design is particularly simple and advantageous from the assembly point of view and will be further described hereinafter in connection with the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 9. 
     At the side of each of gripping means 4,5 is preferably a flat guide bar 12,13 appropriately likewise constructed as an integral part of half sections 6,7 of collector 1. Guide bars 12,13 extend roughly as far as the lower opening plane of gripping means 4,5 in open condition and are of a width which, when mounted externally, essentially corresponds to the front width of collector 1. Guide bars 12,13, which may also be mounted on the inside at the front of gripping means 4,5, are used to guide the sheeting of a bag 15 to pick up animal feces to be disposed of, as described below, and at the same time serve as stop elements on the ground preventing gripping means 4,5 in open condition from being swung by force beyond their preset opening position, resulting in damage to the device, when positioning the device on the ground. 
     To move gripping means 4,5, an actuating member 20 is provided consisting of an actuator rod 21 controllable by the finger of an operator holding the device at handle 2. The lower section 22 of actuator rod 21 is designed as a two-face toothed rack gripping toothed wheel segments 23,24 on the inside of gripping means 4,5 and intermeshing therewith. 
     Actuator rod 21, which has an eye 25 at its upper end for the finger of an operator and can be moved upwards and downwards inside collector 1 close to the front thereof, is prestressed by a pressure spring 26 supported within collector 1, which in the example shown acts upon the upper end of actuator rod 21 with the aim of pushing said actuator rod downwards, thus swinging gripping means 4,5 into open condition. Actuator rod 21 is furthermore provided with two locking elements 28,29 which in the case of upward movement of actuator rod 21 against the action of pressure spring 26 snap in succession into lock position within a recess 27 of the collector. The locking members can be moved out of lock position by means of a release knob 30 assigned to recess 27. If locking member 29 is locked to wall 31 of recess 27, it secured gripping means 4,5 in closed condition, in which the edges of gripping means 4,5 facing one another are located at a short distance from one another. If in the course of a further upward movement of actuator rod 21, locking member 28, located at a distance behind locking member 29, is locked with recess 27, gripping means 4,5 are in completely closed condition, in which their edges facing each other touch and exert pressure on one another. 
     As shown in the alternate embodiment in FIG. 9, actuator rod 127 may also in its lower section divide into two articulated plungers 127&#39;, connected by hinges 130 and acting by way of locking joint pin 128 at locking joints 129 at gripping means 4a, 5a in articulated fashion. This locking joint connection is particularly advantageous from the assembly point of view. 
     In the centre section of collector 1 is a device 40 to fix a bag 15 to receive feces in collector 1, comprising a fastening member to grasp bag 15 at its rear closed end. 
     In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, this fastening member consists of a hook 41 to suspend the rear closed end of the bag provided with a perforation 42. The bag is fixed at the lower end of a slide 44 moving upwards and downwards in a guideway 43 in collector 1. Slide 44 is movable by means of a handle member 4, which reaches through a slot 46 in the wall of half section 7 of collector 1, from a lower final position as illustrated in FIG. 3 into an upper final position, and in the course of this upward movement, hook 41 moves from a lower receiving position for the end of the bag in the area between gripping means 4,5 into a release position above container 9 bounded by gripping means 4,5. 
     The release position may be defined by the upper final position of slide 44 or also by a release member which cancels the fixing of the bag at the fastening member when said fastening member approaches the release position. 
     In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, a cutting knife 47 is provided as a release member in the path of movement of hook 41, and hook 41 is provided with a slot 48 (FIG. 4) parallel to its path of movement, into which cutting knife 47 moves into release position at the end of the movement of hook 41, separating bag edge 49 adjoining perforation 42. Instead of an embodiment of this kind, a stripper could also be provided as a release member, which engages with bag 15 on both sides of perforation 42 when hook 41 approaches release portion and detaches the end of the bag from hook 41. 
     In the alternate embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5, the fastening member is designed as a clamp 50, comprising two arms 51,52 each provided with a jaw 53, which can be engaged and disengaged by swivelling in the manner of tongs around a common axis 54 and are prestressed by a tension spring 55 for movement into clamping position. At the free ends of arms 51,52 opposite to jaws 53, push buttons 56,57 are provided, which project outwards through slots 58,59 in the wall of collector 1 and can be operated by finger pressure to move clamp 50 into open position as illustrated in FIG. 5. In this open condition, the rear closed end of bag 15 can be inserted between jaws 53 and clamp 50 closed by spring 55 by releasing push buttons 56,57. 
     Clamp 50 is likewise fastened to a slide 44, movable along guideways 43 in collector 1 as described in connection with the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3. In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5, the release of the bag end held by clamp 50 can be effectuated manually in release position by opening clamp 50. In place thereof a release member, for example a cam element not illustrated here in greater detail assigned to each of arms 51,52, may also be provided, which engages with arms 51,52 when clamp 50 approaches release position and releases jaws 53 from their clamp engagement of bag 15. 
     As illustrated by FIGS. 11 and 12, hook 141 may have a rounded top, which acts together with strippers 147 with inclines 148 mounted on both sides of slide 144. When hook 141 approaches its upper end position, strippers 147 detach bag 15 suspended on hook 141 on one side, thus effectuating release. 
     As illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 8, the bag is preferably designed as a double-walled folding bag, closed at its rear end by a transverse seam 60. Bag 15 consists advantageously of plastic sheeting sealable or weldable at low temperatures. By this means, a used bag may be closed near its lower end by sealing or welding using heating elements 62 which ma be embedded in the edges of gripping means 4,5 as indicated schematically in FIG. 3. Heating elements 62 may be connected by electric wires and a switch (not illustrated) to a battery (likewise not illustrated in greater detail) which can be accommodated in the collector for the purpose of temperature rise by resistance. 
     The bag may likewise be provided with a closing device 65. To use the manually operated device, actuator rod 21 is released for downward movement by actuating release knob 30, thus effectuating the opening of gripping means 4,5. A bag 15 is then connected at its closed rear end to fastening member 41 or 50, which for this purpose is pushed down between gripping means 4,5 into receiving position. Subsequently the lower end of the bag is spread out and the bag sheeting turned up or draped around of the gripping means 4,5 and guide bars 12,13 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. The manually operated device prepared in this way is then positioned above the animal feces for the collection of said feces, following which the closing of gripping means 4,5 is effectuated by pulling up actuator rod 21 by way of eye 25, first as far as closed position, in which fastening member 41 or 50 together with bag 15 and the contents of same are pulled up a short distance within collector 1 by means of slide 44. In this way, at least that part of the turned-up bag which might have become soiled during the feces pick-up procedure is drawn into collector 1. 
     Subsequently, the complete closing of gripping means 4,5 is effectuated by means of actuator rod 21; in this closed condition, said gripping means are locked. Bag 15 can if necessary be closed by means of heating elements 62 or by means of closing device 65, which is advantageously in the area of the bag still outside collector 1 when bag 15 is in release position, thus ensuring a hygienic enclosure of the contents of the bag, At a convenient time, bag 15 can be ejected into a disposed receptacle. On reaching release position, the bag will already have automatically detached itself from fastening member 51 or 50. 
     As illustrated by FIG. 1, collector 1 is also suitable to accommodate an additional functional element, namely a dog lead 70, which can be wound onto and from a reel 71 coupled to a spring drive or spring loaded device, which reel also incorporates a locking device 72 and a blocking device 73.