WO2015022587A1

WO2015022587A1 - Pet excrement collector

Info

Publication number: WO2015022587A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/058533
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vygantas PURVINIS
Original assignee: Uab "Domus Solution"
Priority date: 2013-08-16
Filing date: 2014-01-24
Publication date: 2015-02-19
Also published as: LT2013090A; LT6176B

Abstract

This invention provides a multifunctional device for a quick, convenient and effective way to collect solid waste of pets, which comprises a frame (2) having a bag (5) mounted inside and a prime mechanism. The prime mechanism comprises a first button (3), a bag sealing mechanism and a second button (6). The frame, shaped as a cup/mug, is positioned over the solid waste (7) of a pet. While pressing the first button (3), the blocks (10) mounted on the bottom of the frame are pushing the bag while the excrement are pushed inside the bag until the two blocks touch each other. The second button (6) is used for locking the position of the two blocks. The inside of the bag is adhesive, so the bag can be sealed securely.

Description

PET EXCREMENT COLLECTOR

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of picking up solid waste. More particularly, the present invention relates to a convenient, fast and effective pet excrement collectors, which function by means of putting the collector on the solid waste, pushing the button and such collecting the droppings.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many people have pets, especially dogs and cats, which are frequently taken outside to dispose their droppings. Unfortunately, often solid waste is left uncollected. For this reason, public places, alleys, lawns and other locations are full of feces that pollute the living environment. Although it is forbidden by the law to leave the droppings uncollected and there are many places where to discard it, some owners of domestic animals are not very keen on cleaning the droppings of their pets. It is partially reasonable as feces have both unpleasant smell as well as unsanitary appearance. The simple way to tackle the problem is to put a bag on a hand and pick the droppings using fingers. Unfortunately, this method is not acceptable for many of the owners because plastic bags are torn easily, they do not isolate smell and the sensation of touching the waste is often repulsive. It is obvious, that there is a need for modern solution, which allows to avoid direct or indirect skin contact and copes with the smell problem, mentioned above. Previous patented inventions are known, describing methods of excrement collectors.

A British patent No. GB2433873, published on 2007-07-11, describes a device for picking up solid material within a flexible bag. An open ended container comprises an inner body having an edge margin protruding, preferably under spring bias, from the open end of an outer body. In use a ligature, such as an elastic band, is placed around the protruding edge margin, which preferably has outwardly projecting spacer ribs, then guided between guide lug at the outside of the outer body and stretched up to be looped around a second guide so as to be held in tension. A flexible bag is then fitted over the open end of the container. The assembly is then placed over a solid, such as dog feces, and the outer body pressed down to dislodge the band from the edge of the inner body. This drags the bag below the solid to collect it into the bag, which is then held by the contracted band still attached to the guides. The bag can be lifted into the interior of the container, by using a notch in the edge of the inner body, for temporary storage above a lid closing the open end. It can be removed for disposal by detachment the band from the device. The container can have multiple sets of guides and notches for successive use with further bands and bags while the earlier ones are still attached and containing collected solid.

A French patent No. FR2833279, published on 2003-06-13, discloses a collector, especially for dog droppings, which consists of a flexible rubber, plastic or cardboard suction-cup bag that is spring-loaded and held in a cassette on the end of a stick. When the collector is pressed down on top of the droppings, suction is created inside the bag that draws the droppings into the bag past valve flaps. The spring can be of a biodegradable composition material, and the bag and cassette are designed to be used once only before being deposited in an appropriate bin following manual or preferably automatic release from the stick. The stick can be made in telescopic or folding sections.

A German patent No. DE19854154, published on 2000-05-25, defines a collector, which consists of a hollow stick of plastic, metal, wood, etc., and a second stick of similar material, moved inside the first one by a slide, knob, etc. on the top or the side of the first stick. A joint at the bottom of the second stick carriers grabs. The grabs are opened by the knob etc. and are closed by e.g. a return spring. A paper/plastic bag is fastened to the outside of the grab via a notch etc. The bag is sealed by a rubber band when filled.

Another German patent No. DE202005016219, published on 2006-02-09, describes a similar dog excrement collector. In a way, the d evice in the form of a walking stick has a grab into which a degradable bag made from paper or plastic is placed. The filled bag can be removed by pressing a button. Opening and locking of the grab is triggered by a button on the handle of the device. The grab is closed and locked using a lever under the handle of the device.

A European patent application No. ES2095808, published on 1997-02-16, discloses a portable device for collecting and packaging animal excrement. The device is formed by two mutually articulated shovels, forming tongs or a small pan which is normally kept closed and can be opened by means of the manual actuation of means which are linked to the shovels. The small pan which both shovels form accommodates a bag which is held on pivots outside the shovels in such a manner that, by means of opening the small pan and subsequent closure thereof animal excrement deposited on the ground is automatically picked up, all the aforesaid in such a manner that the bag may be closed subsequently and deposited in a waste container without there having been any contact with the bag or with the excrement. The invention applies especially to the picking-up of the excrement of dogs and domestic animals (pets) or the like, the result being hygienic and ecological since the bag will be made from biodegradable material.

Prior art inventions describe solutions, which possess only one function - to collect solid waste of pets. Thus, every time when pets are taken outside to dispose their droppings, owners have to carry unwieldy gadget with no opportunity to take any other device, for example, a flashlight and etc. Furthermore, closing excrements in a flexible bag, with two sticking surfaces, or keeping it in grabs or shovels can be leaky, insecure and broken easily. These are the reasons why many of the pet owners do not use any complex excrement collectors and choose to pick solid material with a plastic bag or not to pick at all.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to create a multifunctional device capable of collecting household pet excrement quickly and conveniently and at the same time solve the problem of people refusing to use solid waste collectors, as mentioned above. The invention presents pet excrement collector, which comprises a frame and a prime mechanism.

Said frame preferably is shaped as a cup/mug, with a one end left open. Most preferably the frame is made of light and durable material, e.g. plastic, lightweight metal or similar. Preferably, the frame comprises a bag, mounted inside the frame, which is preferably made from biodegradable material, e.g. paper, plastic or similar. Most preferably, the closing of the inner side of the mentioned bag is covered with a double-sided adhesive tape, smeared with glue or other sticky material. Preferably there is a flashlight, attached to the other end of the mentioned frame, in order for the owners to be capable of taking their pets to dispose their waste during nighttime. The device preferably comprises a comfortable handle that makes the device easy to carry.

Said prime mechanism comprises a first button, a bag sealing mechanism, a second button and a bag locking mechanism. Preferably, the first button activates the bag sealing mechanism. The mentioned bag sealing mechanism comprises two blocks, located in the inner side of the open end of frame, that are pushed until they touch each other. Moving blocks force animal solid wastes into the bag. Most preferably, the bag is fixed behind the blocks using a special metal plate. The bag is fixed so that the adhesive edges of the bag connect when the blocks touch one another, sealing the bag with organic solid wastes inside the bag. Then the second button is pressed, locking the two blocks. Said two blocks function like a binder. This is necessary to make the seal secure if the adhesive surface of the bag cannot stick together after being in contact with animal waste. Another way to secure the seal is to use a perforation method. Using this method, small spikes are attached to the blocks. When the blocks touch one another, spikes make holes in the bag that will hold the bag sealed securely. The safety of the bags seal and use of simple methods to achieve that are considered to be advantages, provided by this invention.

Most preferably, the primed waste collector is carried to the place of waste disposal and the second button is pressed in order to unlock the two blocks and moving them to their initial position. Then the bag can be taken out of the device and be disposed. In order to use the device again, another bag is needed to be inserted and the device should be used as stated before.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention better and appreciate its practical applications, the following pictures are provided and referenced hereafter. Figures are given as examples only and in no way limit the scope of the invention.

Figure 1: illustrates the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the excrement collector is in its starting position, put on top of the excrement (7) that is desired to be disposed. First button (3) and second button (6) are in their initial positions;

Figure 2: illustrates the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the excrement collector is in its waste collecting phase, i.e. first button, that is responsible for activating the bag (5) sealing mechanism is slightly pressed and the sealing mechanism (9) is pushing the blocks (10), while the second button (6) is in its initial position;

Figure 3: illustrates the pet excrement collector, which has finished its operation, i.e. it has collected the solid waste (7). First button (3) is pressed entirely; the blocks (10) are touching each other so that the bag is sealed securely using binder/perforation method and the second button (6) is pressed entirely, locking the position of the blocks (10) so that the bag (5) would not be able to fall out of the frame;

Figure 4: illustrates the method of fastening the bag (5) to the blocks (10), where the bag is fastened behind the blocks using a flexible metal plate (11).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The most preferred embodiment of the present invention is a household pet solid excrement collector, comprising at least a frame (2) and a prime mechanism. Said prime mechanism is preferably integrated inside the frame (2), although it can also be fitted outside the frame.

In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frame is shaped like a cup, mug or similar, and is made from durable and lightweight material such as plastic, aluminum or other material with similar properties. Most preferably, the frame comprises a handle attached, whose main purpose is to make the carrying of the excrement collector more comfortable. In the most preferred embodiment, one end of the frame is left open and another end has a flashlight (1) attached to it, which can be switched on/off using a button (4) on the handle and is intended for pet owners, who take their pets outside to dispose of their droppings during the dark period of the day.

In the most preferred embodiment the prime mechanism comprises the first button (3), the bag sealing mechanism and the second button (6). In the most preferred embodiment the operation of the excrement collector can be described by these steps:

The bag (5) is inserted into the collector.
After the pet has disposed of solid wastes, the excrement collector is positioned so that the open end enshrouds the solid wastes completely, as shown in Fig. 1.
The first button (3) is pressed, which activates the bag sealing mechanism, i.e. the blocks (10) are pushed out, pushing the bag (5) towards the waste (7), as shown in Fig. 2.
While the first button (3) is further pressed, the blocks (10) touch each other at the same time, connecting the edges of the bag (5) and forcing solid waste (7) inside. Then the second button is pressed (6) which locks the positions of the blocks, as shown in Fig. 3.
The excrement collector is carried to a special place for disposing solid wastes and the second button (6) is pressed again to unlock the blocks (10). The first button (3) is pressed again so that the blocks return to their initial position and the bag (5) with solid waste (7) inside it can be removed and disposed. In order to use the device again, above mentioned steps should be repeated.

In the most preferred embodiment, edges of the bag are fastened behind the blocks (10) with a flexible metal plate (11), as shown in Fig. 4. The bag in the most preferred embodiment is made out of biodegradable material such as paper, plastic, etc. Most preferably, the inner side of the bag is adhesive (8), i.e. it is smeared with either glue or any sticky material or there is a double-sided adhesive tape on it. This is necessary as when the blocks come together, the inner side of the bag would adhere resulting in the bag (5) with solid waste (7) being tight. Most preferably the bag should be the size of the frame or smaller than it. It should be appreciated that size of the bag does not limit the scope of this invention.

In the most preferred embodiment, the blocks (10) additionally serve as a clasp. When the blocks push the bag, the inner sticky side of the bag contacts solid waste and the inner side becomes incapable of sticking together because it is spread with the droppings. Thus an extra method is required to make the bag as tight as possible. When the two blocks touch each other, the mechanism of clasp is activated and the bag is firmly fastened.

Yet in another preferred embodiment, instead of using the clasp, blocks further comprise spikes, that make holes in the bag when the block touch each other - perforation method is applied. It should be appreciated that present invention is not limited to the specific method of sealing the bag and the person, skilled in the art, could apply such knowledge creatively for proper realization of this invention.

In the most preferred embodiment the blocks are pushed because of the mechanical press of the first button (3), but they could also be pushed employing hydraulic method or any similar technique. It should be appreciated that the method of pushing blocks is given as an example only and the person, skilled in this field, can apply such knowledge creatively for proper realization of this invention.

In the most preferred embodiment, the second button (6) fixes the blocks (10) in one position, pushing in an obstacle in the direction of the movement of the blocks, preventing them from returning. The method of fixing the blocks could be various, for example, electrical, magnetic and etc. The method of fixing is given as an example only and in no way limit the scope of the invention.

In the most preferred embodiment, the excrement collector is used to pick the droppings of domestic animals, such as dog, cats and others.

In another preferred embodiment, the collector is used to pick any solid environmentally unfriendly waste which could fit in the bag.

In the most preferred embodiment the first button (3) is in such a distance from the handle of the frame, that the owner of a pet could not press it accidentally and could not damage the bag.

Claims

A pet excrement collector, comprising a frame (2), which has a bag (5) and a prime mechanism installed, which consists of the first button (3), the bag sealing mechanism (9) and the second button (6), characterized in that the bag sealing mechanism (9) is the pressing of the first button, pushing the blocks (10), which move towards each other and force pet solid waste (7) into the bag (5), and are fixed in position with the second button.
The pet excrement collector according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocks are additionally used as a clasp or as a perforation method in order to maintain the tightness of the bag (5).
The pet excrement collector according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that additional pressing action of the second button (6) does not fix the blocks (10) and they return to their initial position.
The pet excrement collector according to one of claims 1 to 3, ccharacterized in that a part of the said inner side of the bag (5) which is nearby to the said blocks (10) is adhesive (8).
The pet excrement collector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bag (5) is fastened to the blocks (10) using a flexible metal plate (11).
The pet excrement collector according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said frame (2) is preferably shaped as a cup/mug with a handle and has one end open.
The pet excrement collector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said frame further comprises a flashlight (1), which is located at its closed end.