Abstract:
A method and apparatus for picking up dog waste has a container and plurality of claw elements moveable from a first position entirely within the container and a second position outside the container and spaced apart. In retrieving dog waste, the claws may be retracted radially to underlie such waste, and then be axially raised into the container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable. 
   FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH 
   Not applicable. 
   SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC. ON CD 
   Not applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention generally relates to devices for picking up solid material from the ground. More particularly, the invention relates to devices for picking up dog waste or excrement, encapsulating the same in a wrapper, and placing and storing the same in a compact container which can be easily carried by a dog walker, for subsequent dumping into a suitable receptacle or trash container. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   In many locations throughout the world, a dog owner is responsible for physically picking up fecal matter excreted by the dog when the latter is out for walking or other purpose. It is common practice for a dog owner to carry one or more plastic bags when walking the dog. When the dog defecates, a plastic bag is placed with its open end down over the fecal matter, the owner manually places the open bag end over such matter, uses the bag as a barrier between his hand and the matter, manually urges the matter into the bag, and then inverts the bag and ties or otherwise secures the open bag end. This is not a pleasant experience, nor is the further task of carrying the bag to an acceptable receptacle for disposal. 
   A number of patents have been granted on devices which have been created in an attempt to solve the problems associated with the practice above described. Many of the devices heretofore created include a hand-held fecal matter retriever in which a claw-like member is movable from an open position overlying and generally encompassing the fecal matter to a closed position in which the distal portions of the claws attempt to move under the fecal matter so as to enclose such matter, and permit the same to be removed from the ground. Such claw structures have been developed for use with or without plastic bags or other pieces of moisture proof paper or the like to encapsulate the fecal matter. 
   Such prior art devices have not achieved their contemplated acceptance for a number of reasons. By way of example, some of these devices are quite complicated, and accordingly are too expensive. Others do not operate efficiently or are difficult to use or control. Some of these devices do not properly pick up the matter, contain it in a piece of plastic or the like providing an enclosed package, and then keep the package in a closed compartment until the package can be easily deposited in a suitable receptacle for ultimate disposal. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention involves a relatively simple claw-like mechanism normally positioned in a container. The entire device is intended to be easily carried in one hand. After a dog has excreted fecal matter on the ground, the user can open the container, place a sheet of paper, such as plastic wrap, over the matter, and then manually cause the claw member to extend downwardly and in an open position. Subsequent action causes the claws to uniformly move inwardly and result in the distal portions of the claws to engage the paper wrap. As the claws further close, the paper is forced between the ground and the fecal matter, the latter then being generally encapsulated by the paper or plastic wrap to provide a package. The closed claws or jaws may then be raised into the container, a lid member closing the open end thereof, putting the package out of sight. When a suitable disposal bin is found, the package containing the fecal material can be easily deposited in the same. 
   As a result of the foregoing features, the device of the present invention has a number of advantages and objects, including, without limitation, a construction which requires a minimal force to cause the claw or jaw members to uniformly close around the dog excrement, a device in which the wrapped excrement may be readily held in a container constituting a part of the apparatus; a claw arrangement which will not result in compressing the excrement, and instead leaving the same in its relatively solid state without forcing liquid from the same; in addition to its simple construction and ease of operation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view looking down on the device in its inoperative condition, with the cover or closure member in close proximity to its associated container. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view looking upwardly into the container with the parts remaining in their stored inoperative container. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the device of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view, mostly in cross-section of the device of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  us a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1 , and showing the claws in their first open position after being exited from the container. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the parts shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view. 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view, mostly in cross-section shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a sheet of paper or plastic about to be placed over a pile of excrement. 
       FIG. 10  is a view showing the sheet wrapped around the excrement. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the position of the parts as the claws commence closing around the excrement material. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the position of the parts just prior to complete closing of the claws. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the final closed position of the claws. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In broad general terms, the apparatus of the present invention includes a container  16 , a cover  18  for selectively opening and closing the container, a handle  20  for carrying the device, a plurality of rod-like claw elements  22  attached at their proximal ends to a claw supporting member  24  attached to handle  20 , and attached to the distal ends of elements  22  are scoop-like projections  26  whose design and functions will be later described when the operation of the apparatus is discussed. 
   As shown in the drawings, container  16  comprises a generally cylindrical housing having side wall  28  with a top wall  30  and an open bottom  32 . In normal use, the device will be carried and used in the spatial orientation illustrated in the drawings. Accordingly, the use of the terms “side”, “top”, and “bottom” are only used in reference to the operative positions of the parts of the apparatus. Container  16  is illustrated generally cylindrical, with an axis extending generally vertically. The diameter of the circular open bottom  32  is preferably slightly larger than the diameter of the closed end wall  30 , thereby providing the container with a slightly tapered frusto-conical cross-sectional elevational configuration. 
   Claw supporting member  24  is shown as a generally cylindrical plug adapted to move into and out of a cylindrical opening  34  in end wall  30 . The upper end of the plug member  24  is formed integrally with or connected to handle  20  which may simply comprise a cylindrical shaft extending axially upwardly from the top  30  of the container. Any suitable stop member may be provided to prevent the claw supporting member  24  and its associated handle  20  from passing completely through opening  34  and through the open bottom  32  of the container. As here shown, the stop member comprises a radial flange  36  provided at the upper end of the plug member  24 , having a diameter larger than the opening  34  in wall  30 . 
   To continue with the description of the details of construction, it should be noted that extending generally axially downwardly from the periphery of plug member  24  are a plurality of claw elements  22  peripherally placed substantially equally around said member. Each such element comprises a longitudinally extending rod with spring-like characteristics. These elements can be deformed or bent into a desired configuration or shape, minimal forcing be applied to change the original shape, and upon release of the force, return to their original shape. 
   In the context of this invention, each element  22  has a straight proximal portion  22   a  extending axially downwardly from member  24  in parallel relationship to each other and to the axis of said housing or container  16  as illustrated in their normal position shown in  FIG. 8 . A medial portion  22   b  of each element extends radially outwardly from the lower end of portion  22   a , and the distal end of portion  22   b  continues with a generally axially extending distal portion  22   c  flaring radially outwardly at an angle of about 30° from the axis of its proximal portion  22   a . The lower extremity of portion  22   c  terminates with a radially inwardly projections  26 . 
   The operation and function of this apparatus may now be discussed.  FIGS. 1 to 4  illustrate the position of the parts in their inoperative stored condition, in which the dog owner would normally carry the device. This position is obtained by the user pushing downwardly on the container  16 , axially away from handle  20 , until the medial portions  22   b  of the claw members engage the inner surface of end wall  30  and prevent further axial separation of the parts. At this time, projections  26 , and the distal portions  22   c  of elements  22  will be confined within the housing defined by the container chamber. It should also be explained that the ends of the element portions  22   c  are exerting a radial outward force against the container side wall, because during the axial separation of the handle and the container, the side walls of the container are urging the flexible distal portions radially inwardly. 
   A better understanding of the above described operation should be made clearer with reference to  FIGS. 5 through 8 . In these views, the container is pulled upwardly relative to the handle, and accordingly, the distal portions of the claw elements with their scoop-like projections flex radially outwardly from the container axis. 
   Referring back to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , it will be noted that the proximal positions of the rod elements  22  are exposed between the lower end of the handle  20  and the top wall of the container. This is primarily for ease of illustration and operation, since these portions can be readily enclosed in a sheath or other protective or ornamental covering, if desired. 
   With reference to the utility of this invention,  FIG. 9  diagrammatically represents dog excrement  50  on the ground. As soon as this excretion has been deposited on the ground, the user may place a piece of paper  52 , such as plastic wrap or other moisture impervious material, over the material. Cover  18  is removed from the open end of the container as suggested in  FIG. 1 . The handle is then pushed downwardly towards the container, causing the claw elements  12  to extend from the lower end of the container as shown in  FIGS. 5 through 8 . The device is then positioned over the excrement with projections  26  placed on the paper  52  generally surrounding the underlying excrement as shown in  FIG. 11 . By pushing down on the container, the claw elements will be axially retracted with their projections  26  moved radially inwardly, thus bringing the paper sheet under the excrement and forming the package  54  shown in  FIG. 10 . The package is raised upwardly into the container and indicated in  FIG. 11 through 13 . 
   Cover  18  may then be placed on the container and the package will be hidden from view, until the owner locates a suitable disposal container, at which time, the cover is removed, and the package discharged by holding the container in one hand and pushing down on the handle with the other hand, causing the claws to be lowered, open, and release the package. 
   The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The embodiment described is selected to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular purpose contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.