Patent ID: 7819446

Claim:
A device for picking up solid material within a flexible bag, comprising: (a) an outer body; (b) an inner body substantially and slidably enclosed by the outer body; and (c) a first guide element and a second guide element positioned on the exterior of the outer body, wherein the inner and outer bodies each comprise an open end, wherein the inner body comprises an edge margin which is slidably protrudable from the open end of the outer body, wherein an elastic band is stretchably fittable around the protruding edge margin, wherein the flexible bag can be fitted over the protruding edge margin, wherein the outer body can be pushed downwards over the protruding edge margin of the inner body, causing the elastic band to be dislodged from the edge margin of the inner body, closing the flexible bag around the solid material, wherein the first guide element is adjacent the open end of the outer body, wherein the second guide element projects away from the outer body and is spaced apart from the open end of the outer body, wherein the elastic band can be attached to the device by way of the first and second guide elements, whereby guidance and tension is provided to the elastic band, and the flexible bag remains connected to the device after the flexible bag is closed.