Patent Abstract:
The present invention is an apparatus that is used to hold a bag in which pet refuse or waste is deposited without the need to directly hold the bag with the hands or another item closely associated with the person accompanying the pet, such as the person&#39;s clothing. The apparatus is generally comprised of a cord member and a clamping member. A bag-holding loop and a leach-connecting loop are formed in the cord member by the clamping member. The pet refuse bag is held within the bag-holding loop by sliding the clamping member down the cord member until the clamping member is adjacent to the bag. The leash-connecting loop is attached to a pet leash or a cord connecting member, which may be attached to a pet leash. The present invention also includes a method of using the apparatus.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to an apparatus that may be used to hold pet refuse or waste, and more specifically an apparatus of this type that may be connected to a pet leash or that may be a part of a pet leash. 
         [0002]    It is a common requirement that pets in public places, such as parks and walkways, be connected to a leash that is controlled by the person accompanying the pet. There are also many instances where a leash is desired to control the movement of a pet located on private premises. In addition, there is also often a requirement or desire that the person accompanying the pet promptly remove any refuse or waste deposited by the pet on the premises. In these cases, the person often carries a bag, which is used to scoop up and retain the deposited pet refuse. After retrieving the pet refuse in the bag, the person often ties a knot in the bag adjacent to the bag opening so that neither the refuse, nor the odor it produces, escapes from the bag. For obvious reasons, the person typically does not desire to hold the bag with his or her hands or anything closely associated with the person (such as a pocket in the clothing) after retrieving the waste. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus that may be used to carry the bag until the bag may be properly disposed of, in which the person is not required to directly contact the bag after retrieving the pet refuse. There is also the need for the apparatus to be lightweight and unobtrusive so that it does not interfere with the enjoyment of time spent with the pet. Further, the apparatus needs to be easy to use, especially in light of the ongoing need to control the movement of the pet. Further still, the apparatus needs to be inexpensive to manufacture. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus that meets the needs discussed above in the Background section. As described in greater detail below, the present invention, when used for its intended purposes, has many advantages over other devices known in the art, as well as novel features that result in a new apparatus and a new method for its use that are not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any prior art devices or methods, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
         [0004]    In one version, the present invention is comprised of an apparatus used to hold a pet refuse bag. In this version, the apparatus is comprised of a cord member, cord connecting means to connect the cord member to a pet leash, and slideable clamping means having a passageway therein bounded by two entry points. Both the cord connecting means and the slideable clamping means are described in more detail below. The cord member is positioned in the passageway in a manner so that a leash-connecting loop is formed in the cord member adjacent to the slideable clamping means at one entry point of the passageway. A bag-holding loop is formed in the cord member adjacent to the slideable clamping means at the other entry point of the passageway. The leash-connecting loop is connected to the cord connecting means. A portion of a pet refuse bag is placed within the bag-connecting loop, so that the slideable clamping means may be slid down the cord member along the bag-holding loop until the slideable clamping means is positioned approximately adjacent to the pet refuse bag. The slideable clamping means may then be clamped to the portion of the cord member positioned within the passageway of the slideable clamping means so that the pet refuse bag is held securely within the bag-holding loop. In some embodiments of this version, the cord connecting means may be comprised of an aperture positioned in the pet leash. The leash-connecting loop is connected to the pet leash by a portion of the leash-connecting loop being positioned within the aperture. Alternatively, the cord connecting means may be comprised of a fastener, in which the fastener attaches a portion of the leash-connecting loop to the pet leash. In other embodiments, the slideable clamping means may be a mechanical toggle holding device, a buckle-type clasp, a friction collar, or another type of clamping device. In still other embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise the pet refuse bag, the pet leash, or both. 
         [0005]    In another version of the present invention, the apparatus is comprised of a cord member, a cord connecting member, and a slideable clamping member having a passageway therein bounded by two entry points. In this version, cord connecting means are used to connect the leash-connecting loop of the cord member to the cord connecting member and member connecting means are used to connect the cord connecting member to a pet leash. Both the cord connecting means and the member connecting means are described in more detail below. In this version, and except as described in more detail elsewhere herein, the apparatus has substantially the same structure, features, functions and characteristics as the first version of the present invention described above. In some embodiments, the member connecting means may be comprised of an adhesive positioned on a surface of the cord connecting member. The adhesive may be covered with a peel-off strip that is removed from the adhesive, exposing the adhesive, prior to attachment of the cord connecting member to the pet leash. The cord connecting member is attached to a surface of the pet leash by means of the adhesive. In this version, some embodiments may also further comprise the pet refuse bag, the pet leash, or both. 
         [0006]    The present invention also includes a method of securing and holding a pet refuse bag to a pet leash using the apparatus of the present invention. The method generally comprises the following described actions. A portion of a pet refuse bag is placed within the bag-connecting loop portion of the cord member. Next, the slideable clamping member is slid down the cord member along the bag-holding loop until the slideable clamping member is positioned approximately adjacent to the pet refuse bag. Next, the slideable clamping member is clamped to the portion of the cord member positioned within the passageway of the slideable clamping member so that the pet refuse bag is held securely within the bag-holding loop. 
         [0007]    The apparatus and method of the present invention therefore meet the requirements set forth above in the Background section above. For example, using the disclosed apparatus and method, a pet refuse bag may be removably connected to a pet leash. Thus, the person holding the pet leash is not required to hold the pet refuse bag with his or her hands or anything closely associated with the person (such as a pocket in the clothing) after retrieving the waste. In addition, the apparatus is lightweight and unobtrusive so that it does not interfere with the enjoyment of time spent with the pet. Further, the apparatus is easy to use, especially in light of the ongoing need to control the movement of the pet. Further still, the apparatus is inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0008]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more primary features of the present invention. There are additional features that are also included in the various embodiments of the invention that are described hereinafter and that form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. This invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but the drawings are illustrative only and changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following appended drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1 , which is a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention from above and to the side of the apparatus; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A , which is a perspective view of another embodiment of the slideable clamping means of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B , which is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the slideable clamping means of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3 , which is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the slideable clamping means of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4 , which is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention from above and to the side of the apparatus; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5 , which is a plan view of the connecting surface of the cord connecting member of the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 4 , as taken along the lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6A , which is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cord connecting member; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6B , which is a perspective view of a cord connecting member removably attached to a conventional lead, which is also shown in perspective view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it is to be noted that the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0019]    An embodiment of the present invention is represented by the apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the apparatus  10  is generally comprised of a pet leash  20 , a cord member  30 , cord connecting means to connect the cord member  30  to the pet leash  20 , and slideable clamping means. The cord connecting means and slideable clamping means are both described in more detail below. The pet leash  20  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a retractable pet leash  20  generally comprised of a body  21 , a handle  22 , a cord retraction switch  23 , and a retractable cord  24 . Although the handle  22  and the outer shell of the body  21  of the pet leash  20  are usually constructed primarily of a plastic material, other materials may also be used in their construction. The user of the apparatus  10  typically holds the pet leash  20  by the handle  22 . Using the cord retraction switch  23 , the user may cause the retractable cord  24  to be extended from and retrieved to a coil of cord (not illustrated) inside the body  21 . This action allows the pet (not illustrated) connected to the distal end of the retractable cord  24  to move farther from the pet leash  20  (and therefore farther from the user of the apparatus  10 ) or be pulled closer to the pet leash  20  (and therefore closer to the user). This type of pet leash  20  is well known in the relevant art, and the details of its operation are not material to this description of the present invention. It is to be noted that the pet leash  20  of  FIG. 1  is illustrative only. In other embodiments, other types of pet leashes may be utilized in lieu of the pet leash  20 . For example, the pet leash  20  may be a conventional lead  420 , such as a cotton web or leather lead, as illustrated in  FIG. 6B , or other types of pet leashes or leads currently known in the art or that may be developed in the art in the future. It is also to be noted that in some embodiments, the present invention is comprised of the cord connecting means, the cord member  30 , and the slideable clamping means. In other embodiments, the present invention may be further comprised of the pet leash  20  or the pet refuse bag  40  or both. 
         [0020]    The cord member  30  is generally a continuous cord without ends, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, the cord member  30  is seamless, so that there are no knots or other connectors or fasteners present along its length. It is possible, however, that in other embodiments the cord member  30  could be comprised of a cord with ends, in which the ends are tied together, such as by a square knot, or otherwise fastened together to form the cord member  30 . The cord member  30  may be comprised of any materials suitable for use as a cord, as long as the cord member  30  has adequate strength to hold the pet refuse bag  40  in normal operation of the apparatus  10 . For example, the cord member  30  may be comprised of rubber (including neoprene) and other elastomers, homogeneous polymers, twisted or woven polymer fibers, cotton fibers, other fibers, cloth, fabrics, or other suitable materials or combinations of such materials. Such materials may allow the cord member  30  to stretch. Preferably, the cord member  30  is comprised of nylon. In addition, the length of the cord member  30 , when it is positioned in a manner so that it is linear with two strands positioned side-by-side, is preferably in the range from three inches to eight inches long (from linear end point to end point). More preferably, the cord member  30  is approximately five inches long when placed in this orientation. Further, the cord member  30  preferably has a circular cross-section with a diameter in the range from 1/16th inch to ⅛th inch. In other embodiments, however, the cord member  30  may have a different shaped cross-section. For example, the cross-section of the cord member  30  may be elliptical, arcuate, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or another shape or combination of such shapes. 
         [0021]    In the apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the slideable clamping means is a mechanical toggle holding device  50  having a passageway  50   a  therein that is bounded by entry points  51  and  52 . A portion of the cord member  30  is positioned in the passageway  50   a  in a manner so that a leash-connecting loop  31  is formed in the cord member  30  adjacent to the mechanical toggle holding device  50  at one entry point  51  of the passageway  50   a  and a bag-holding loop  32  is formed in the cord member  30  adjacent to the mechanical toggle holding device  50  at the other entry point  52  of the passageway  50   a.  When the button  53  of the mechanical toggle holding device  50  is pressed down, the cord member  30  is released so that the mechanical toggle holding device  50  may slide along the cord member  30 . When the button  53  of the mechanical toggle holding device  50  is released, the cord member  30  is held in position in the passageway  50   a  so that the mechanical toggle holding device  50  does slide along the cord member  30 . In operation, a portion of a pet refuse bag  40  is placed within the bag-connecting loop  32 . The mechanical toggle holding device  50  is then slid down the cord member  30  along the bag-holding loop  32  until the mechanical toggle holding device  50  is positioned approximately adjacent to the pet refuse bag  40 . The mechanical toggle holding device  50  may then be clamped to the portion of the cord member  30  positioned within the passageway  50   a  of the mechanical toggle holding device  50  so that the pet refuse bag  40  is held securely within the bag-holding loop  32 . Preferably, there is a knot  41  tied approximately adjacent to the opening of the pet refuse bag  40  to prevent the refuse and associated odor from escaping from the pet refuse bag  40  and to assist the bag-holding loop  32  in holding the pet refuse bag  40 . To release the pet refuse bag  40 , the mechanical toggle holding device  50  is unclamped from the cord member  30  and slid down the cord member  30  along the leash-connecting loop  31  a distance until the pet refuse bag  40  can be removed from the bag-holding loop  32 . 
         [0022]    It is to be noted that in other embodiments, the slideable clamping means may take another form. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the slideable clamping means may be in the form of a friction collar  150  having a passageway  150   a  therein that is bounded by entry points  151  and  152 . In this embodiment, a portion of the cord member  130  is positioned within the passageway  150   a  of the friction collar  150  in a manner so that a leash-connecting loop  131  is formed in the cord member  130  adjacent to the friction collar  150  at one entry point  151  of the passageway  150   a,  and a bag-holding loop  132  is formed in the cord member  130  adjacent to the friction collar  150  at the other entry point  152  of the passageway  150   a.  The passageway  150   a  and the cord member  130  each have a cross-sectional shape and diameter such that the friction collar  150  is held in place relative to the cord member  130  by friction. When an adequate force is applied longitudinally against the friction collar  150  while the cord member  130  is held in place, the friction collar  150  slides along the cord member  130  until the force is removed, at which point the friction collar  150  is once again held in place (clamped) relative to the cord member  130  by friction. Thus, the bag (not illustrated) can be placed in the bag-holding loop  132 , and the friction collar  150  may be slid along the cord member  130  until the friction collar  150  is approximately adjacent to the bag. The friction collar  150  is then held in place by friction (clamped), allowing the bag to be held in the bag-holding loop  132  until a force is applied to the friction collar  150 , moving it away from the bag and thereby releasing the bag. In yet another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , the passageway  150   a ′,  150   a ″ of the friction collar  150 ′ may be comprised of two channels  150   a ′,  150   a ″. In this embodiment, the friction collar  150 ′ may have substantially the same type of features, structure and operation as the friction collar  150  described above and illustrated in connection with  FIG. 2A , except that the passageway  150   a ′,  150   a ″ is comprised of two separate channels  150   a ′,  150   a ″ and each channel  150   a ′,  150   a ″ has a portion  130   a ′,  130   b ′ of the cord member  130 ′ positioned therein. Each portion  130   a ′,  130   b ′ of the cord member  130 ′ is held in place relative to the friction collar  150 ′ by friction. As yet another example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the slideable clamping means may take the form of a buckle-type clasp  250 . In this embodiment, a portion of the cord member  230  is positioned within the “passageway” of the clasp  250 , which is generally comprised of two apertures  251 ,  252  that also function as entry points to the clasp  250  for the cord member  230 . Thus, the leash-connecting loop  231  is formed adjacent to aperture  251  and the bag-holding loop  232  is formed adjacent to aperture  252 . The clasp  250  is held against the cord member  230  by friction when the cord member  230  is pulled tightly through the apertures  251 ,  252 . The clasp  250  may be slid along the cord member  230  when the cord member  230  has a loop on the side of the apertures  251 ,  252  opposite the side of the clasp  250  where the cord member  230  enters the apertures  251 ,  252 . In yet other embodiments, the slideable clamping means may be other types of devices, such as cam-type clamps, clips, or other suitable devices or combinations of such devices currently known in the art or that may be developed in the art in the future. It is also to be noted that the “passageway” of the slideable clamping means may take many shapes and forms. 
         [0023]    In the apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cord connecting means is comprised of a protruding member  25  having an aperture  26  therein. In this embodiment, the leash-connecting loop  31  of the cord member  30  is connected to the protruding member  25  (as the cord connecting means) by positioning the leash-connecting loop  31  of the cord member  30  in the aperture  26  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The aperture  26  in the protruding member  25  may have any suitable shape. In other embodiments, the cord connecting means may take any suitable form. For example, as is also illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cord connecting means may be comprised of a recess  27  and a pin  28  (both shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ). In this case, the leash-connecting loop  31 a of the cord member  30   a  (both shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ) is positioned in the recess  27  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In yet other embodiments, the cord connecting means used to connect the leash-connecting loop  31  to the pet leash  20  may take the form of another suitable fastener, such as glue, adhesive, adhesive tape, screws, nuts and bolts, pins, dowels, nails, clamps, clasps, brackets, hook and loop fasteners (such as VELCRO), or other means or combinations of such means. 
         [0024]    Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the apparatus  310  has substantially the same structure, features, functions and characteristics as the embodiment of the apparatus  10  described above and illustrated in connection with  FIG. 1 , except that the apparatus  310  is comprised of a cord connecting member  360  instead of a pet leash  20 . The embodiment of the apparatus  310  illustrated in  FIG. 4  is also comprised of member connecting means, which are described in more detail below, to connect the cord connecting member  360  to a pet leash  320 . In this embodiment, the leash-connecting loop  331  of the cord member  330  is connected to the cord connecting member  360  by cord connecting means. The cord connecting means of the apparatus  310  may have substantially the same structure, features, functions and characteristics as the cord connecting means of the apparatus  10  described above and illustrated in connection with  FIG. 1 , except that the cord connecting means of the apparatus  310  is used to connect the leash-connecting loop  331  to the cord connecting member  360  instead of a pet leash  20 . The cord connecting member  360  may have almost any shape as long as at least one surface of the cord connecting member  360  is of a size and shape adapted to be connected to the pet leash  320  using the member connecting means, which are described in more detail below. For example, the cord connecting member  360  may have shapes and surfaces that are wholly or partially spheroidal, ellipsoidal, polygonal, or having other linear or arcuate surfaces, contours or shapes or combinations of such shapes. In addition, the aperture  362  in the cord connecting member  360  may have any suitable shape. Preferably, the cord connecting member  360  has the shape illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the surface  361  of the cord connecting member  360  is adapted to be attached to the lower surface of the body  321  of the pet leash  320  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In other embodiments, the cord connecting member  360  may be attached to other portions or surfaces of the pet leash  320 . The cord connecting member  360  may also be constructed of any suitable material. For example, the cord connecting member  360  may be constructed of metal, minerals, cloth, fabric, leather, glass, wood, cork, bone, plastics or other polymers, ceramics, paper, fiberglass, resins, or other artificial and naturally occurring materials, or combinations of such materials. Preferably, the cord connecting member  360  is constructed of a material that allows the surface  361  to flex slightly to accommodate curvatures in the surface of the pet leash  320  to which the cord connecting member  360  is connected. More preferably, the cord connecting member  360  is constructed of a semi-rigid polymer, such as silicone or nylon. The member connecting means may be comprised of any means suitable to connect the cord connecting member  360  to the pet leash  320 . For example, the member connecting means may be comprised of an adhesive (not illustrated) positioned on the surface  361  of the cord connecting member  360  that is to be connected to the pet leash  320 . The adhesive may be covered with a peel-off strip (not illustrated) that is removed from the adhesive, exposing the adhesive, prior to attachment of the cord connecting member  360  to the pet leash  320 . The cord connecting member  360  is attached to a surface of the pet leash  320  by means of the adhesive. Examples of adhesive/peel-off strips that are suitable for this purpose include 3M VHB Tapes and 3M Double Coated Tapes with release liner that are sold by the 3M Company. In other embodiments, the member connecting means may be comprised of hook and loop fasteners, such as VELCRO. For example, the surface  361  of the cord connecting member  360  may have the hook portions (not illustrated) positioned thereon and the portion of the surface of the pet leash  320  to which the cord connecting member  360  is attached may have the loop portions (not illustrated) positioned thereon, so that the cord connecting member  360  may be removably connected to the pet leash  320  using the hook and loop fasteners. Another example of how hook and loop fasteners may be utilized is illustrated in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B . In this embodiment, the connecting member  460 ,  460 ′ is comprised of a cord connecting portion  463 ,  463 ′ and a strap portion  464 ,  463 ′, respectively. The cord connecting portion  463  may be mounted on the strap portion  464 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6A , or the cord connecting member  463 ′ may be incorporated as a part of the strap portion  464 ′, as illustrated in  FIG. 6B . It is to be noted that the connecting portion  463 ,  463 ′ and the strap portion  464 ,  464 ′ may be of almost any shape or size as long as they may be used to connect the cord connecting member  460 ,  460 ′ to the pet leash  420 . The surface  465  of the strap portion  464  that faces away from the pet leash  420  has hook portions positioned on one portion  465 a thereof. The surface  466  of the strap portion  464  that faces toward the pet leash  420  has loop portions (not illustrated) positioned on a portion thereof, so that the hook portions and the loop portions removably interconnect when the strap portion  464  of the cord connecting member  460  is wrapped around the pet leash  420 , as described below. In operation, as illustrated in  FIG. 6B , the cord connecting member  460 ′ is placed approximately adjacent to a surface of the pet leash  420  and the distal portions of the strap portion  464 ′ are wrapped around the pet leash  420  until the hook and loop fasteners interface to make a removable connection. It is to be noted that in other embodiments the hook portions and loop portions may be positioned on different surfaces of the cord connecting member  460 ,  460 ′, which can be wrapped around the pet leash  420  in different ways. It is also to be noted that the cord connecting member  460 ,  460 ′ may also be used in conjunction with the pet leash  320  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . For example, the cord connecting member  460 ,  460 ′ may be connected to the handle  322  of the pet leash  320  in a manner similar to that described above and illustrated in connection with  FIG. 6B . Referring again to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , in still other embodiments, the member connecting means used to connect the cord connecting member  360  to the pet leash  320  may take other suitable forms of permanent or removable means, such as glue, adhesive, adhesive tape, screws, nuts and bolts, pins, dowels, nails, clamps, clasps, brackets, or other means or combinations of such means. It is to be noted that in yet other embodiments, the apparatus  310  may further comprise the pet leash  320  (or  420 ) or the bag (not illustrated), or both. 
         [0025]    Referring again to the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  as an example, the present invention also includes a method of securing and holding a pet refuse bag  40  to a pet leash  20 . Generally, the method comprising the following actions. First, a portion of the pet refuse bag  40  is placed within the bag-connecting loop  32  of the cord member  30 . Next, a slideable clamping member (the mechanical toggle holding device  50  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ) is slid down the cord member  30  along the bag-holding loop  32  until the slideable clamping member  50  is positioned approximately adjacent to the pet refuse bag  40 . The slideable clamping member  50  is then clamped to the portion of the cord member  30  positioned within the passageway of the slideable clamping member  50  so that the pet refuse bag  40  is held securely by the bag-holding loop  32 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 0