Patent Document

FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is in the field of pet waste removal and control. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Today, most public areas require, usually by statute, dog owners to dispose of their pet&#39;s droppings in a sanitary manner. The most common methods existing today are either cumbersome and unsanitary “scoop and drop” devices, or unsavory manual pick up by hand utilizing plastic bag. 
         [0003]    The unique catch, close and drop device has been developed specifically to allow dog owners or handlers to completely avoid the need to either scoop up droppings, or to pick up droppings by hand, thereby making the exercise a more efficient, more sanitary, and less unpleasant experience. 
         [0004]    Existing devices and methods for removal of pet waste involve the pet handler to wait for their pet to deposit excrement on the ground, and then the pet handler picks up the excrement, often using a plastic bag or protective glove. Such methods are inefficient, leaving waste particles on the ground or other surface, as well as requiring the pet handler to grasp waste with their hand, albeit through a bag or glove. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides an improved collection device for handling pet waste, removing the need for a pet handler/user to come into contact with the pet waste. The device has an elongated handle, a thin frame forming a hoop at the end of the handle, and a drawstring bag removably attached to the frame. The drawstring bag has an extended exterior flap allowing for secure placement on the frame. The device is designed for the pet handler/user to place the frame and bag behind the pet while the pet is in the process of excreting, allowing the waste to enter the bag. The pet handler/user may then pull the draw string to close the bag and may dispose of the waste filled bag without touching the body of the bag. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the bag of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top elevation view of the bag of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention, showing the bag attached to the frame. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top elevation view of the invention, showing the bag attached to the frame. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is top elevation view of the handle and frame of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the handle and frame of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the frame along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    The invention preferably consists of a frame  200  attached to an elongated handle  100 . A bag  300  with a drawstring closure is removably placed on the rigid frame  200 . 
         [0014]    The elongated handle  100  has a distal end and a gripping end opposite the distal end. Handle  100  preferably has a hook  110  attached along a side of the handle, toward the distal end, where hook  110  provides a means to allow the drawstring  350  to be removably attached thereto. 
         [0015]    The frame  200  is preferably formed of a thin elongated member, with both ends of the elongated member connected at the distal end of the elongated handle. The frame may form any number of shapes, with circular, elliptical, and diamond shapes being preferred. Frame  200  may be of a variety of sizes and made of any rigid or semi-rigid material. The size of frame  200  may vary to accommodate different uses. While the drawings show frame  200  as a circular hoop, one skilled in the art can see that alternate shapes would provide the same function. 
         [0016]    The bag  300  is formed of two side panels connected at their bottom and sides, forming a bag opening at the top and surrounding a bag interior  305 . The bag opening is approximately the size of the frame, with a channel  310  extending along the bag opening, allowing an elongated closure string  350  to pass therein. Preferably, bag  300  is comprised of plastic or other liquid impermeable material. In a preferred embodiment, bag  300  formed of two rectangular pieces of plastic, sealed at three of the four sides of the rectangles, with channel  310  surrounding the open sides. 
         [0017]    A flap  320  is connected to the bag  300  at the opening, extending parallel to the sides of the bag. Preferably, the flap extends along the length of the bag opening, and the width of the flap is at least ½ inch from the bag opening. A wider flap aids in securing bag  300  on the frame. In a preferred embodiment, at least one edge of the flap is attached to an edge of a side panel of the bag, forming a pocket between the side panel and the flap. Flap  320  may be comprised of two separate flaps, one on each side of bag  300 . 
         [0018]    A distinctive feature of the invention is the positioning of the flap  320  relative to the opening of bag  300 . Prior art string bags have cords or string sealed at a channel at the opening of the bag, but such bags cannot work for the purposes of the invention. Flap  320  allows the bag to sit on frame  200  without falling off, and positions channel  310  and closure string  350  atop frame  200  for easy removal with a pull of the string. 
         [0019]    As an optional feature, removable securing means can be applied to flap  320 , allowing flap  320  to be removably attached to the side of bag  300 . Examples of such removable securing means include adhesive strips, snaps, fasteners or similar means as are known in the art. 
         [0020]    The elongated closure string  350  of the flexible bag  300  preferably extends through a channel  310  adjacent to the opening of the bag  300 , with the ends of the closure string  350  extending outward from an opening in channel  310  near handle  100 . Channel  310  may have two openings proximate to each other, or may have open gaps along the periphery of the bag opening. In a preferred embodiment, channel  310  is open near handle  100  and also include a gap  330  opposite from handle  100 . 
         [0021]    At the opposite side of the frame  200  from the connection to the elongated handle  100 , a U-shaped extension  210  is preferably formed. Extension  210  engages an edge of bag  300  to help secure bag  300  on frame  200 , and prevent lateral rotation of bag  300 . For additional support of bag  300 , a loop of closure string  350  may be extended to engage extension  210 . Doing so would prevent closure string  350  from being fully retracted, but on windy days, a pet handler/user might want the additional support to keep the bag from blowing off of frame  200 . 
         [0022]    A description of the operation of the invention is provided in the following paragraphs. 
         [0023]    Prior to taking the pet for a walk, the pet handler/user places the bag  300  in the center of the frame  200  with the flap  320  placed over the perimeter of frame  200 . The ends of closure string  350  may be tied together or otherwise placed over hook  110 . Preferably the invention is made of lightweight materials so that the pet handler/user can hold the invention in one hand, possibly the same hand as used to hold a pet leash. 
         [0024]    Upon noticing that the pet is preparing to defecate, the pet handler/user extends the invention such that frame  200  and bag  300  are directly under the pet&#39;s posterior, so that the feces are deposited directly into bag interior  305 , instead of on the ground. After the pet has finished defecation, the pet handler/user moves entire device away from the pet. 
         [0025]    The pet handler/user pulls on the ends of closure string  350  to close the bag  300 . This action also serves to remove bag  300  from frame  200 . The bag  300  may now be safely and sanitarily released and deposited into a convenient receptacle. 
         [0026]    A key advantage of the present invention over prior art approaches is that due to the use of a removable bag, the present invention provides a more hygienic solution. Unlike prior art “scooper” devices, the main body of the invention does not come into contact with feces, and therefore will not need antiseptic cleaning. Further, unlike other bag-based solutions, the user of the present invention will not need to grasp the feces through the bag, a discomforting feeling, even if no actual contact is made. A user of the present invention will only need to grasp the ends of closure string  350  to pull bag  300  closed, and can then deposit bag  300  into a waste receptacle, all without the discomfort of being in contact with feces, even through a bag. 
         [0027]    As an optional feature of the invention, hook  110  may be moveable along the side of elongated handle  100 , providing a remote mechanism to pull closure string  350 , thereby closing bag  300 , and disengaging bag  300  from frame  200 . After the bag has been filled, the pet handler/user may place the closed bag over a waste receptacle and remove closure string  350  off of hook  110 , thereby allowing bag  300  to fall into the waste receptacle. 
         [0028]    The invention can be used for more than collecting animal waste. Other uses include collecting fish from an aquarium tank; or catching insects, birds, or rodents. For certain applications, bag  300  could be made of a net or mesh material. 
         [0029]    The invention may also include a telescoping or extension feature to handle  100 , to allow for more flexibility in the size and ease of storage. 
         [0030]    An alternate embodiment of the invention would provide a short handle  100 , with an adapter that allows a user to use their own elongated support for the frame. 
         [0031]    Closure string  350  may be a cord of any commonly known materials, such as twine, nylon, cotton string, rubber, wire or other similar materials. 
         [0032]    While certain novel features of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Technology Category: 1