Patent Abstract:
A tool for retrieving animal waste is effective in complete removal as it deploys at its end a row of tines that are inserted beneath the solid waste so that is can be lifted from the ground as the first step for proper disposal. The waste is then removed from the tines by a plate that pushes it off into a waste receptacle.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for animal waste disposal 
     It is desirable and frequently required by law that pet owners promptly remove pet dropping from public parks and sidewalks, as well as from private property, for health reasons, as well as the damage it does to grass and other vegetation. 
     As many pet owners do not wish to bend over and use papers or plastic bags to remove droppings by hand an array of devices have been developed. 
     However, many of these prior art device are deficient are deficient in one manner or another as will be discussed below. Virtually all prior art devices attempt to provide a more sanitary means of removing pet waste, that is to avoid contact. Some these prior art devices use one of more scoops o shovel shapes to capture the waste. Frequently, these prior art devices tend to either incompletely remove droppings, or if used to completely remove the dropping also require the removal of surrounding grass and soil, and are hence also injurious to landscaping. 
     Further, these devices also tend to collect animal waste residue, and hence require regular cleaning and additional maintenance. 
     If the tools are used move aggressively to remove all residues, more residues tend to stick to the tool. Further, the tool portion that contacts the waste can be difficult to clean. 
     Accordingly it is a first object of the invention to provide an improved means to remove animal droppings, and particular pet droppings wherein the user/handler need not stoop over. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide such an improved apparatus that can completely remove such animal waste, yet will not damage grass or ground cover. 
     It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a device having the above attributes, that while capable of completely removing such animal droppings of varying consistency, will not become soiled or clogged and will hence be easier to clean and maintain. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In the present invention, the first and other objects are achieved by providing a method of removing animal waste, the method comprising the steps of: providing a tool having a lateral lifting surface at one end, a plate disposed over said lifting surface for sweeping waste off the lifting surface when loaded thereon, wherein the lifting surface and plate are disposed at the end of a shaft, inserting the lifting surface under the waste to be removed, lifting the shaft upward to remove the waste from the ground, transporting the waste to a disposal container, translating the plate over the lifting surface to urge the waste there from whereby it falls in the disposal container. 
     In a second aspect of the invention other objects are achieved by providing a tool for animal waste removal, the tool comprising: a shaft having a top and a bottom, a handle at top of shaft, a lateral lifting surface disposed in a first common plane, said first common plan being substantially horizontal to and coupled to the bottom of said shaft, a plate disposed perpendicular and immediately above said plurality of tines, an actuator coupling said handle to said plate wherein the operation of said actuator via said handle urges said plate to move in said first common plane perpendicular to said lateral lifting surface. 
     In a third aspect of the invention other objects are achieved by providing a tool for animal waste removal, the tool comprising a shaft having a top and a bottom, a handle at top of shaft, a plurality of tines disposed in a first common plane, said first common plan being substantially horizontal to and coupled to the bottom of said shaft, a plate disposed perpendicular and immediately above said plurality of tines, an actuator coupling said handle to said plate wherein the operation of said actuator via said handle urges said plate to move in said first common plane perpendicular to said plurality of tines. 
     The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A-C  are schematic elevations of the front, side and rear respectively of a first embodiment of the invention, while  FIG. 1D  is a plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 2A-C  are schematic elevations of the front, side and rear respectively of a second embodiment of the invention, while  FIG. 2D  is a plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 3A-C  are schematic elevations of the front, side and rear respectively of a third embodiment of the invention, while  FIG. 3D  is a plan view. 
         FIG. 3E  is a plan view of the clip shown in  FIG. 3A  at section line E-E. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the interior of the actuator mechanism at the handle trigger end. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the interior of the actuator mechanism at the bottom of the shaft with the tines and moving plate. 
         FIG. 6A  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the moving plate portion. 
         FIG. 6B  is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of the moving plate portion. 
         FIG. 7A-C  are schematic elevations of the front, side and rear respectively of a fourth embodiment of the invention, while  FIG. 7D  is a plan view thereof.  FIG. 7E  is an alternative embodiment of the portion shown in  FIG. 7D . 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate an alternative embodiment of an actuator, in which  FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the lower portion of the device from slightly above the side and  FIG. 8B  is a cut away perspective view of a portion of the interior mechanism of the actuator from slightly above and behind the lower portion of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 8 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved Animal Waste Disposal Tool, generally denominated  100  herein. 
     In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates tool  100  having a shaft  110  having a top  110   a  and a bottom  110   b , with a handle  120  generally disposed toward the top of shaft  110 . At the opposing or bottom end  110   b  of shaft  110  a plurality of tines  130  are disposed in a first common plane  131 , said first common plane being substantially horizontal to and coupled to the bottom of said shaft. A plate  140  is disposed perpendicular and immediately above the plurality of tines  130   
     An actuator  150  coupling the handle  120  to plate  140  wherein the operation of said actuator  150  via said handle  120  urges said plate  140  to move in the common plane perpendicular to the plurality of tines  130 . Plate  140  is shown in alternative position in broken lines and labeled  140 ′ in the Figures. 
     It should be understood that is more preferable that each of the embodiments also comprises a spring biasing mechanism  180 , such as leaf spring(s) coils springs and torsion springs and the like, as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , as well as  FIG. 7 . In particular, it is preferably a torsion spring when plate  140  rotates about or adjacent to shaft  110  in  FIG. 5 . The spring  180  preferably supplies a constant and controlled minimum force to eject waste off the tines  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the actuator mechanism  150  alternatives include a rotating bar connecting the plate to the handle, as well as a bar that slides in and out, each extending from the plate to the top of the shaft. The top of this bar is the handle. The bar can be connecting to the shaft at some intermediate position by a slide or pivot mechanism. The slide or pivot can include a biasing means. Actuator may include a cable actuator and/or a coupling to magnify the plate displacement with respect to the handle displacement. Alternative actuator mechanisms can be any found in the prior art search. 
     The tines  130 , being spaced apart with gaps is readily inserted under the waste matter without while slide through blades or grass and other vegetative matter. Accordingly, when the operator lifts the tool  100  upward, they pick up the waste but also do not damage the grass as it ready slips through the tines. Dispose. 
     Accordingly, it will now be appreciated that the device  100  improves sanitation and hygiene by complete removal without residue on the ground as animal waste can be removed without direct contact. Further, the user of the device need not stoop over to remove waste, nor carry, buy or find plastic bags is general purpose waste receptacle are in the general vicinity. The tine arrangement minimizes the potential for leaving waste residue on the tool, as the contact therewith is minimizes and not pressure is asserted to squeeze the waste onto the tool other than its own mass. Likewise, as the plate  140  slides across the tines  130 , and will readily remove the waste there from without leaving significant residue. Further, the tool  100  portions, which is the tines  130  and the plate  140  that contacts residue, are easy to clean. 
     In  FIG. 1  the actuator  150  deploys another or secondary shaft  109  coupled at the bottom to the plate  140  and at the top to the handle  120 . The secondary shaft  109  and slides laterally with respect to the main supporting shaft  110 , remaining parallel thereto. Various combinations of spring  180  elements shown in other embodiments can be used to bias the plate  140  to either alternative position. Further, the secondary shaft  109  is optionally supported at the center as shown, but more preferably at both the top and bottom by slots or channel that extend from the main shaft  110 , so that it is restrained to move laterally. 
     In  FIG. 2  the actuator  150  is another or secondary shaft  109  coupled at the bottom to the plate  140  and at the top to the handle  120 . The secondary shaft  109  pivots about the center of the main supporting shaft  110 , via a rotary coupling  160 , thus the movement of handle  120  forward, retracts plate  140 , while the backward movement propels it forward along with plate  140  to push waste matter off the tines  130 . Various combinations of spring  180  elements shown in other embodiments can be used to bias the plate  140  to either alternative position. The spring  180  elements can be at either the plate  140  end, the handle end  140  or a torsion spring in the rotary coupling  160 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a more preferred embodiment that further comprises rails  165  that extend above and parallel to the plurality of tines  130 . In various other embodiments the rails  165  also help stabilize the plate  140 , acting as plate guides. However, the primary function is to insure that waste cannot fall or slip sideways off the tines  140  was it is lifted off the ground. Preferably, the plate  140  has a lower portion with fingers that are inter-digitated to extend into the gaps between the tines  130 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the actuator mechanism  150  comprises a cable  151  that is responsive to squeezing the trigger  159  portion of handle  120 . The cable  151  terminates at the upper portion with a capping cylinder  152 , shown in more detail in  FIG. 4  in a transparent perspective view. The capping cylinder  152  and the top portion of the cable  151  are inserted into the opposite end of the trigger  159  (distal from rotary coupling  159   a ) which has with a downward oriented bore hole  459  and a side slit  451  that extends laterally to reach the entire length of the bore hole  459 . The bore hole  459 . has an upper portion that is wide enough to retain the capping cylinder  152 . This upper portion is followed by a lower portion that is just wider than the cable, but narrower than the capping cylinder; so that when the cable is inserted in the slot and pulled downward (or the block pulled upward) the capping cylinder  152  will be retained in this bore hole  459  in the trigger  159 . 
     As shown in detail in  FIG. 5 , the opposite end of the cable  151  at the base of shaft  110 , that is side  110   b , is connected in rotary engagement with a round gear  153  that is divided into two axially separated portions which are round gears  153   a  and  153   b . The intervening axle  155   c  is thus driven by the cable  151  via the grip handle trigger  159 . The trigger  159  mechanism has a rotary coupling  159   a  at the end of the hand grip so that when it is squeezed and pulled backward into the handle the cable  151  is pulled upward. Then, at the opposite end of the actuator  150 , the cable  151  rotates the round gear  153  and urges the plate  140  backward, thus compressing the spring  180 . 
     The cable  151  is physically attached to the intervening axial  155   c . Further, at least one of the round step gears  153   a  and  153   b  has an off center external projection  502  on its outside that is intended to engage a similar projection  503  extending inward from the case  510 , and thus limit the range of rotary motion of the round gear  153  to the intended travel range of the cable  151 . 
     Each of the axially separated round step gears  153   a  and  153   b  simultaneously engage tracks of flat gear  155 . By flat gear we mean the arrangement of gear teeth in a linear co-planar arrangement. The portion of the flat gear  155  most distal from plate  140  has a vertical portion  555  for supporting a spring  180 . The end of spring  180  distal from plate  140  is connected toward the top of this vertical portion. The flat gear  155  fits and slides in the rectangular well in the base having a series of tracks  501  in the bottom that are in a triangular shape, making limited contact with the reverse side of the flat gear, opposite the teeth thereof, to minimize friction. However, these are merely the currently preferred embodiments of the flat gear and well, which need not have the shapes or contact areas shown, as other shapes such as circular, oval and trapezoidal are possible. The spring  180  that biases the plate  140  with respect to the bottom  110   b  of the shaft  110  extends above and in the same direction as the track gear, being below the intervening axle  155   c , and thus in the gap between the round gears  153   a  and  153   b.    
     The proximal end of the flat gear  155  is connected to the reverse side of plate  140 , which is the side facing shaft  110 . The proximal end of the spring  180  is connected or coupled to the base near the bottom  110   b  of shaft  110 . The base thus has an aperture so that the flat gear can translated forward and backward as the actuator  150  is engaged. 
     Further, the handle  120  rotates for left and right handled operation, preferably includes a locking pin  111  in the shaft  110 , as the handle has an axial extension  112  that surrounds the upper portion  110   a  of shaft  110 , a common lateral locking pin  111  extends through a pair of common lateral holes to prevent the handle  120  from sliding on shaft  110 . The locking pin  111  in spring  402  biased detent mechanism that prevent the handle extension portion  112  from rotating with respect to shaft  110  until it is depressed. Locking pin  111  also enable handle  120  to rotate  180  degrees for left and right handled operation. A clip  113  on shaft  110  for holding the shaft on an associated pan with handle. Preferably, but not exclusively, plate  140  moves in the direction of the tines  140  principle axis  145 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , spring  180  is normally biased to urge the plate  140  toward the end of the tines  130 . Then, when the trigger  159  is squeezed and pulled back into the handle, the upward movement of the cable  151  will rotate the round gear  153  thus, causing the plate  140  to move inward from the end of the tines  130  back toward the case  510 . It should be appreciated that another alternative embodiment is attaching a spring to the farthest right side of housing of the case  510  to the vertical extension  555  which will bias the plate  140  and flat gear  155  back into the case  510 . Then, when the trigger  159  is squeezed and pulled back into the handle, the upward movement of the cable  151  will rotate the round gear  153  thus, causing the plate  140  to move outward to the end of the tines  130 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in embodiment of  FIGS. 7D and 7E , the tines  130  are optionally linear or curved respectively, curves tines being preferable when the plate  140  rotates rather than translates in a complete lateral fashion. 
     In  FIG. 6A , guide rails  165  are shown as also having rearward extending appendages  165   b  to plate  140 , spaced above tines  130  attached to side  110   b  of the shaft  110 . More preferably, a spring  180  is coiled around each guide rail appendage  165   b , which are behind plate  140  to avoid fouling. Further, the ends  165   a  of guide rails  165   b  extend through mating holes in the base about shaft side  110   b , and thus stabilize plate  140 .  FIG. 6B  illustrates one alternative embodiment for using a leaf spring  180 , as opposed to ordinary coil springs  180  and  180 ′ in  FIG. 6A . While leaf spring  180  is oriented with the wide side vertical, it is also possible to deploy leaf springs of other shapes and orientation. Note that the guide rails  165  are attached to the front of plate  140 , moving forward therewith. This alternative embodiment can be used with any of the actuator embodiments described herein. 
       FIG. 7A-C  are schematic elevations of the front, side and rear of a fourth embodiment of the invention, and secondary shaft  109  attached to edge of the plate  140  via a vertical rotary coupling  161 . Thus the upper portion of the secondary shaft  109  preferably includes a horizontally extending handle  720  that together with the handle  120  essentially form a trigger mechanism for actuator  150 . The plate  140  translates in the plane of the tines by rotating across the tines  130 . 
     In  FIG. 7D , which is an alternative embodiment of the portion shown in  FIG. 7C , the tines  130  are curved following the curving track of plate  140 . It should be apparent that this configuration of curved tines  130  may also be preferable to use with the actuator embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . Further, in any of the embodiment the tines  130  and guide rails  165  may have cross sectional shape is optionally round, square, inverted triangles (point up), or flattened or oval. Further, plurality of tines  140  can be replaced with a large flat rectangle lifting plate having the same dimensions, although this would be less desirable for removing animal excrement from grass surface. The plate  140  can move from the handle side of the tine array  130  to the tip thereof in response to the actuator  150 , or in the opposite direction so that the rest position of the plate is either at the edge of the tines or at the connection between the tines and the shaft. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate an alternative embodiment for a lower portion of the actuator wherein the portion thereof coupled to the flat plate  140  deploys pairs of hinged arms  801   a  and  801   b  that unfold to translate the plate  140  across the tines  130 . The pairs of hinged arms  801   a  and  801   b  on one side of tine array  130  are connected by cross members  813  and  814  to the pairs of hinged arms  801 ′ a  and  801 ′ b  on the opposite side of the tine array. Arms  801   a  and  801   b  are connected in rotary engagement by a pin  801   a , as are hinged arms  801   a ′ and  801   b′   
     In  FIG. 8A , the opposite end of each hinge arm  801   b  is connected the near side of plate  140  in rotary engagement via another pin  805   a , with arm  801   a ′ likewise connected to the opposite side of plate  140  via another rotary pin connection. 
     The opposite side of hinge arm  801   b  and  801   b ′ are connected to the near and far sides of the wide base  835  in rotary engagement via pins  805   b . The base  835  is orthogonal to shaft  110  and has about the same width as plate  140 . 
     The plate  140  has two guide rail sleeves  803  located at opposite ends which enable the plate to slide along the guide rails  165 . Pairs of torsion spring  802  are coupled to the interior walls of hinge arms  801   a  and  801   b  to bias the rotation there between at pin  801   c  and  801   c ′, normally urging the plate  140  toward the end of the tines  130 . 
     As shown in detail in  FIG. 8B , a pulley  812  is connected in rotary engagement at the base of shaft  110 . The opposite end of the cable  151  that is attached to the trigger  159  is attached to the axle  810  of pulley  812 . Attached to the outer wall of axle  810  is a cable guide  809  that will prevent the cable  151  from slipping off. A second cable  804  is wrapped around protruding post  806  for attachment to the plate  140 . The opposite end of the cable  804  is attached to a second axle  807 , which has co-axial cable guide  808   a  and  808   b  to prevent the cable  804  from slipping off laterally. The intervening axle  810  is thus driven by the cable  151  via the grip handle trigger  159 . The trigger  159  mechanism has a rotary coupling  159   a  at the end of the hand grip so that when it is squeezed and pulled backward into the handle the cable  151  is pulled upward. Then, at the opposite end of the actuator  800 , the cable  151  rotates the pulley  812  and urges the plate  140  backwards, via the second cable  804  that is attached to the plate  140 , thus compressing the spring  802 . 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments also include combination of mechanisms shown in one embodiment with those shown in another.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4