FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a device for the automated collection of pet feces, produced for example when pets such as dogs are taken for a walk on a leash, and it is necessary to pick up their feces for reasons of cleanliness and civic duty and/or to avoid incurring fines.

The present invention is advantageously also applied inside the home, in order to maintain clean and hygienic conditions, for example if the pets live inside living and/or residential spaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that pets, such as for example dogs, need wide spaces to live in, where they can move freely, run, play etc., whether they are small, medium or large size.

It is also known that, generally speaking, the open spaces in the city where pets can be left free to move are few and small, and often the only spaces that can be used are the ones inside the house.

In these circumstances there is a widely-felt need to take one's pets on a leash for a walk through the city streets, so they can stay outdoors.

In such cases it is necessary to be provided with containers, so as to be able to pick up the pets' feces, during the walk, for reasons of cleanliness and civic duty and/or because in many cities fines are applicable for those people who do not trouble to clean the feces left by their pets from the streets, flowerbeds and other public spaces.

Various solutions have been devised, from the simplest to some that are rather complex, in order to allow dog-owners to pick up the feces, avoiding dirtying themselves in the process.

Simple plastic bags are known, such as for example shopping bags provided with handles, used to contain the animals' excrement.

One disadvantage of known plastic bags is that they require the use of auxiliary elements, such as for example scoops to push inside them the feces left in the streets, flowerbeds or other spaces, with the risk of losing the scoops, thus making everything unusable. Furthermore, the operation of picking up the feces generally requires quite some time, in order to pick up all the portions of the feces, and the scoop has to be brought close to the bag several times in order to thrust the feces inside it.

Such bags can also be used alone, like a glove, by inserting the hand into the bag and picking up the feces left on the ground by the animals. In this case, the bag is then turned inside out and held by the handles in order to transport the collected feces to the place where they are disposed of, without dirtying the user's hands.

One disadvantage of using such solutions is that it is difficult to remove all the feces from the ground, and there is a risk of leaving some residues on the ground that are difficult to remove or are not noticed by the dog-owner.

Another disadvantage of such solutions is that, in order to pick up the feces, the user must bend over, making the pick-up operation laborious and uncomfortable, especially for older people.

Furthermore, another disadvantage of such solutions is that often the bags used have tears in them, not immediately visible and therefore the user risks dirtying himself.

A mechanical-type device is also known for picking up feces or refuse, which comprises a gripper provided with valves that define a containing volume, with a containing bag disposed around the valves. The device also comprises a stick, provided at one end with command means and at the other end with the gripper. By commanding the command means, the user opens and closes the gripper so as to pick up the feces and hold them inside the containing bag.

The device is complicated to use, bulky to transport and furthermore it does not guarantee a complete removal of the feces from the ground where they are located.

Devices are known, from documents US-A-2007/024070 and GB-A- 2.331.006, for the automatic collection of animal feces, provided with driven suction means to convey the feces into a containing bag.

In particular, US-A-2007/024070 has rotary brushes in the collection point to crush the feces before sucking them up; this contaminates and dirties not only the rotary brushes but also the whole internal part of the collection point. The user is thus obliged to use the washing system provided and to check he has done his work well: if he has not, he must intervene manually to complete the cleaning operation. Moreover, the feces have to be discharged manually by the user.

On the contrary, GB-A-2.331.006 is rather complicated in its functioning since in order to create the depression it is necessary to press a rubber opening hermetically against the ground. It is also necessary, after use, to wash the inside of the access opening. In this case too, the feces have to be discharged manually by the user.

One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a device for the collection of pet feces which allows to reduce the times and complexity of the operation to pick up the feces.

Another purpose of the present invention is to allow an operator to pick up the feces of pets efficiently without requiring him to bend down to the ground in order to pick them up.

Another purpose of the present invention is to allow the feces to be picked up immediately after they have been produced, in this way solving the problem of cleaning the streets and thus reducing the costs that local administrations have to sustain in order to provide for the cleanliness and hygiene of public places using their own staff and means.

Another purpose of the present invention is to automate both the collection and discharge of the feces collected.

Another purpose of the present invention is to prevent the user and the instrument he uses from coming into contact with the feces collected, thus obviating the need to clean himself and the instrument after use.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a device for the automated collection of pet feces comprises a support mean that functions as an operating element having a substantially elongated shape that includes: - a terminal element that has a first open end,

- a second gripping end opposite the terminal end,

- a containing segment, interposed between the open end and the gripping end, and inside which an element for containing the feces is positioned, closable and removable, and a driven suction mean.

The latter is disposed between the gripping end and the containing segment so as to suck up the feces through the open end, and convey them into the containing element so that they can subsequently be removed from the device and deposited in suitable waste containers.

According to the present invention, the containing element is associated with a mouth opening comprising at least a unidirectional shutter, or closing, element that allows the feces to pass toward the containing segment and inside the containing element, and prevents them from coming out through the open end. In some forms of embodiment, the containing element comprises a case, or storage compartment, delimited at the rear by a bottom and laterally by walls, advantageously in a substantially rigid configuration, and selectively closed at the front by said shutter, or closing, element, so as to prevent every other part that makes up the support mean from coming into contact with the feces collected, thus excluding any risk of contamination or dirtying.

In some forms of embodiment, the containing element is the throw-away, or disposable, type, and removable automatically.

In some forms of embodiment, the device according to the present invention also comprises automatic attachment and detachment means for the containing element, comprising at least a spring and security means to prevent the accidental release of the containing element.

In some forms of embodiment, the first open end comprises a collection point, or tip, in which the containing element is housed.

The containing segment is in correspondence with the collection point, or tip, and the containing element includes a first end on which the mouth opening is assembled, in order to intercept the feces and allow to attach the support mean securely to the collection point, or tip, and the closing bottom of the case or storage compartment for the feces is made of transpirant, or transpirable, material, such as a gas-permeable material, so as to allow the air to pass through it during the suction operation.

In other forms of embodiment, the containing element is a containing bag.

In variants of these forms of embodiment, the open end comprises a collection point, or tip, which includes a first end to intercept the feces and a second end directly associated with the containing segment on which the mouth opening is attached in order to attach the containing bag.

The containing bag is advantageously made of transpirant or transpirable, material, such as a gas-permeable material, material so as to allow the air to pass through it during the suction operation, and to contain and hold the feces.

In one solution of the invention, the mouth opening comprises unidirectional shutter, or closing, elements which allow the feces to pass toward the containing segment and prevent them from coming out through the collection point, or tip, once they have been put inside the containing bag.

According to another variant, the motorized suction mean comprises a centrifugal fan and an electric motor which allow to create a depression inside the support.

The electric motor is advantageously fed by batteries.

The gripping end advantageously comprises a switch to drive the motorized suction means.

The gripping end also comprises electric means connectable to a battery charger to charge the batteries when they are flat.

In a preferential form of embodiment, the open end comprises tubes that extend inside it and are connected to a tank filled with a disinfectant solution able to be sprayed through said tubes onto the zone from which the feces have been collected, and which advantageously allow to disinfect the zone where the feces were deposited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a lateral schematic view of a first form of embodiment of the device for the automatic collection of feces according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a sectioned view of a detail of fig. 1 ; - fig. 3 is a plane view of a detail of fig. 2;

- fig. 4 is a plane view from below of the detail in fig. 2;

- fig. 5 is a sectioned view of a detail of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 6 is a sectioned view of a detail of fig. 1, according to another form of embodiment of the present invention;

- fig. 7 is a plane view of a detail of fig. 6;

- fig. 8 is a schematic lateral view of a second form of embodiment of the device for the automatic collection of feces according to the present invention;

- figs. 9a and 9b are a lateral view of a part of the device in fig. 8 and the relative plane view;

- figs. 10a and 10b are a lateral view of a part of the device in fig. 8 and the relative plane view, in an assembled condition;

- fig. 1 1 is a detail of the device in fig. 8;

- fig. 12 is a lateral view of a detail of a variant of the device in fig. 8.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify common elements in the drawings that are substantially identical. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF

EMBODIMENT

With reference to figs. 1 - 7, a first form of embodiment is shown, indicated by the reference number 10, of a device 10 for the automated collection of pets feces according to the present invention, which comprises a support 1 1 that functions as an operating element having a substantially elongated tubular shape which includes, at one end, a first segment 12, at its opposite end a second segment 13, and a suction device 15, interposed between the first segment 12 and the second segment 13 and which allows to suck up the feces left by pets on the ground.

The first segment 12 and the second segment 13 are substantially tubular shaped with a circular ring cross section.

On the opposite end with respect to that where it is connected to the suction device 15, the first segment 12 (fig. 2) comprises a terminal element 25 connected to the first segment 12 with threaded connections. According to other forms of embodiment, the terminal element 25 can be connected to the first segment 12 by means of a bevel coupling or snap-in connection means.

The terminal element 25 and the first segment 12 in this case define a compartment 17 to collect the feces.

A collection point, or tip, 16 is connected, solidly and in a known manner, to the terminal element 25. The collection point, or tip, 16 is tubular and has a cross section shaped like an annular ellipse. It is provided with a first end 18 to intercept the animals' feces and a second end 19 (fig. 2) directly associated with the compartment 17, advantageously made inclined with respect to the extension of the first segment 12, and which allows to attach an mouth opening 20.

The mouth opening 20 comprises a unidirectional shutter, or closing, element 21 (figs. 2 and 3) that allows the feces to pass toward the compartment 17 and prevents them from coming out through the collection point, or tip, 16, once they have been collected in the compartment 17.

The shutter, or closing, element 21 is pivoted in proximity to the external surface of the mouth opening 20 and allows it to rotate only in the direction indicated by the arrow F (fig. 2), whereas it prevents it from rotating in the opposite direction once the shutter, or closing, element 21 is returned to the inactive condition.

The mouth opening 20 is provided on its external surface with a groove 22 that extends along the whole perimeter extension and that allows to attach a containing bag 23.

The containing bag 23 is made of transpirant material, for example cloth, non- woven fabric or suchlike, to allow the air to pass through it during the suction operation, and to contain and retain the feces, and is provided with an elasticized aperture which allows to attach the containing bag 23 in the groove 22.

The containing bag 23 is provided with closing means such as for example laces: when they are pulled they close it so that it can be removed without the user getting dirty and subsequently put into the appropriate waste containers.

During the suction operation, the containing bag 23 expands inside the compartment 17 for the collection of the feces.

The first segment 12 and the second segment 13 are connected to each other by a joint 27 (figs. 1 and 5) to contain the suction device 15 by means of known connection means, such as for example threaded connections.

The suction device 15 comprises a centrifugal fan 29 that is driven by an electric motor 30, and which creates a depression inside the first segment 12 able to suck in the feces through the collection point, or tip, 16.

The fan 29 upstream of the suction is provided with filter means 31 to protect the fan 29.

The joint 27 is provided on its external surface with apertures 32 through which the air taken in is expelled.

The electric motor 30 is fed by batteries, advantageously rechargeable, which are disposed in series inside the second segment 13.

At the upper end of the second segment 13 (fig. 1), a handgrip 35 is connected which allows an operator to grip the device 10 so as to transport and use it, for example during walks with his pet, and advantageously supplies an auxiliary support on which the operator can lean during the walk.

The handgrip 35 also comprises a switch 39 which allows to drive the electric motor 30 and electric means 34 of a known type, connectable to a battery charger to recharge the batteries 33 when they are flat.

In another form of embodiment of the present invention (figs. 6 and 7), the terminal element 25 is provided with tubes 36 that extend inside it and are directly connected to a tank 37. The tank 37 is filled with a disinfectant solution that is sprayed through the tubes 36, and which disinfects the zone where the feces have been left.

The operation of spraying the disinfectant solution is carried out with suitable spraying means that advantageously exploit the condition of depression that is created inside the first segment 12 in order to suck in the disinfectant solution from the tank 37 and, when this condition ceases, the disinfectant solution is sprayed into the collection zone.

The device 10 for the collection of feces according to the present invention functions as follows.

When driven by the switch 39, the device 10 activates the electric motor 30 and therefore the fan 29 connected to it. The fan 29 creates a depression inside the first segment 12, a depression which sucks in the containing bag 23 which, being fixed to the mouth opening 20, expands inside the compartment 17.

The containing bag 23, being transpirant, causes the shutter, or closing, element 21 to open toward the inside of the containing bag 23; this allows the feces to pass, which are intercepted by the operator by means of the collection point, or tip, 16.

Once the feces have been completely collected, the operator intervenes to deactivate the feed to the electric motor 30, the condition of depression inside the first segment 12 ceases, and the shutter, or closing, element 21 automatically returns to an inactive position, reclosing the containing bag 23 and storing the feces inside it. Due to the inclination of the second end 19, the feces are not deposited on the shutter, or closing, element 21 , obstructing its aperture, but slide completely inside the containing bag 23.

At a later moment the operator can remove the containing bag 23, disconnecting the terminal element 25 from the first segment 12, and can close the containing bag 23 by means of the closing means provided, such as for example laces, or the elasticized aperture itself.

With reference to figs. 8 - 12, a second form of embodiment of a device for the automated collection of pets feces according to the present invention is described, indicated for convenience by the reference number 1 10 and where for identical parts the same reference numbers used in the first form of embodiment shown in figs. 1 - 7 are applied.

In this case too, a support is provided, indicated by the reference number 1 1 1, which functions as an operating element and has a substantially elongated tubular shape, in which the first segment 12 and the second segment 13 are connected by a joint 27 (fig. 11) to contain the suction device 15, as described above for the first form of embodiment.

Moreover, the device 1 10 comprises a containing element 123 of the throw- away, or disposable, type, positionable inside a compartment 131 of the collection point, or tip, 16.

The containing element 123 is used to store the feces collected, and has for example a tubular shape and a cross section of the annular type, although there is nothing to prevent other oblong shapes and different sections, even polygonal, being used. The containing element 123 comprises a rear bottom 123b and a lateral wall 123a, in this case annular, delimiting inside a case or storage compartment 1 19 for the feces.

At the front, the containing element 123 provides a mouth opening 120 that comprises a unidirectional shutter, or closing, element 121 (figs. 9a, 10a, 1 1 and 12). The latter, when the suction is activated, can rotate in one direction inside the storage compartment 1 19 to allow the feces to pass. The rotation toward the outside of the shutter, or closing, element 121 is advantageously prevented by an abutment step 133 made in this case inside the wall 123a and disposed toward the outside with respect to the shutter, or closing, element 121.

The shutter, or closing, element 121 allows the feces to pass to the storage compartment 1 19 and, once they have been collected inside the storage compartment 1 19, prevents them from coming out. The shutter, or closing, element 121, in particular, is pivoted to the surface of the mouth opening 120, so as to allow it to rotate only in the direction indicated by the arrow F (fig. 10a), whereas it prevents it from rotating in the opposite direction once the shutter, or closing, element 121 is returned to the inactive condition.

A terminal element 125 is provided, suitable to clamp and release the axial position of the containing element 123, and is inserted rotatably on the collection point, or tip, 16.

The containing element 123 protrudes from the collection point, or tip, 16 and hence also from the terminal element 125 with a first end 1 18 of the mouth opening 120, to intercept the pet feces. The shutter, or closing, element 121 is provided in the first end 1 18.

On the contrary, in the position opposite the first end 1 18, inside the compartment 131 of the collection point, or tip, 16, a spring 126 is disposed (figs. 10a and 12), which rests on the bottom 123b of the containing element 123. The spring 126 is pre-loaded to act, when the containing element 123 is released by the terminal element 125, on the bottom 123b and to thrust the containing element 123 automatically outside and thus obtain the automatic expulsion of the containing element 123, without the user having to handle it, and thus avoiding all user contact, even indirect, with the feces or the element that contains them. In order to obtain the clamping/release of the containing element 123 with respect to the terminal element 125, the mouth opening 120 is provided, on its external surface, with a security pin 122 that cooperates with an annular groove 135 made on the terminal element 125 in order to selectively clamp the containing element 123.

An abutment shoulder or undercut 124 is also provided, which determines an axial end-of-travel for the insertion of the containing element 123 inside the compartment 131.

In particular, by means of a suitable thrust of the containing element 123 inside the terminal element 125, to compress the spring 126, and a simultaneous rotation of the containing element 123, the pin 122 is inserted into the groove 135 and the axial retention of the containing element 123 is obtained.

A coordinated rotation of the terminal element 125 releases the pin 122 from the groove 135 and allows the axial movement of the containing element 123, so that the thrust exerted by the loaded spring 126 determines the automatic expulsion thereof.

The walls 123a of the storage compartment 1 19 of the containing element 123 are made of an advantageously bio-degradable material, for example paper, such as to prevent the contact of the feces with the internal walls of the first segment 17 or with any other part of the support 1 1 1.

The bottom 123b of the containing element 123, which acts as a separating partition, is advantageously made of transpirant material, for example cloth, non- woven fabric or suchlike, so as to allow, during the suction operation, the air to pass through it and in any case to ensure that the feces collected are contained and retained.

In a variant form of embodiment (fig. 12), the terminal element 125 is also provided with tubes 136 that extend inside it and that are connected directly to the tank 137 which can contain a disinfectant solution which is sprayed through the tubes 136 onto the zone where the feces were left.

The spraying of the disinfectant solution is carried out using suitable spraying means such as for example those that advantageously exploit the condition of depression that is created inside the first segment 17 in order to suck up the disinfectant solution from the tank 137 and, when this condition ceases, spray the disinfectant solution through the pipes 136 into the zone where the feces, just collected, had been left.

The functioning of the device 1 10 as described above will now be described.

When the user plans to use the device 1 10, he inserts the containing element 123 on the collection point, or tip, 16 of the support 1 1 1, he clamps it using the clamping/release system of the terminal element 125 and at the same time automatically loads the spring 126.

Then, when the user has to collect his pet's feces during the walk, he will drive the switch 39 that activates the electric motor 30 and therefore the fan 29 connected to it. The fan 29 creates a depression inside the first segment 17, which tends to suck in the feces and, since the bottom 123b of the containing element 123 is transpirant, this will cause the latter to open toward the inside of the shutter, or closing, element 121, which therefore allows the feces to pass, which are intercepted by means of the first end 1 18.

Once the feces have been completely collected, the operator intervenes to de- activate the feed to the electric motor 30, the condition of depression inside the first segment 12 ceases, and the shutter, or closing, element 21 automatically returns to an inactive position, reclosing the storage compartment 1 19 of the containing element 123 in which the feces collected are stored. At the same time, in the variant equipped with the disinfection system, when the depression ceases the disinfectant solution is sprayed on the area where the feces had been left.

At a later moment the operator, having reached the collection bins provided by the local authorities, can automatically expel the containing element 123 by acting on the clamping/release element of the terminal element 125, therefore without coming into contact with the feces or with the containing element 123 that contains them.

Thanks to the use of the containing element 123 for intercepting and storing the feces, and the provision of the clamping and release system and the automatic discharge of the containing element 123, the operator has no contact with the feces and no need to clean the support 1 1 1 after use.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the device 10, 1 10 for the automatic collection of pet feces as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of device for the automatic collection of pets feces, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.