DEVICE FOR COLLECTING WASTE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to waste collection devices and specifically to manually operated waste collection devices which allows the operator to avoid direct contact with the waste.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous types of devices for collecting waste. An example is United States Patent No. 3,560,039 which comprises a pair of tongs with a scoop for picking up the waste matter. The problem with the United States Patent No. 3,560,039 device is that it does not incorporate a receptacle for collecting the waste. Examples of waste collection devices incorporating a receptacle are United States Patent No. 3,804,448 which comprises a handle with a scavenging scoop receptacle and a lid, and United States Patent No. 4,019,768 which comprises a metal frame structure for holding a bag and an extended waste engaging portion for scooping up the waste. In both United States Patent No. 3,804,448 and United States Patent No. 4,019,768 devices, the waste is collected by an upward scooping motion. There is a risk that the waste matter will be flicked onto the user or the surroundings rather than into the receptacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device for collecting waste comprises a receptacle having an inlet opening at one end and a closed surface on the other end, a cover, a compressing means connecting the cover to the receptacle and a displacing means connecting the cover to the receptacle. The compressing means biases the device to a closed position wherein the cover enclose the inlet of the receptacle and the displacing means can be operated to displace the device to an open position whereby the cover is displaced to expose the inlet of the receptacle.

Preferably, the displacing means comprises one least one movable rod having a cover end and a string end fixedly connected on the cover end to the cover and slidingly engaged with the receptacle, a handle telescopically connected to the receptacle, a displacing string connected to the string end of the movable rod and two or more pulleys supporting the displacing string. The device is displaced to an open position by creating tension on the displacing string pulling the string end of the rod away in the direction of the inlet opening of the receptacle.

Preferably, the device further comprises a door, one or more spring loaded hinges connecting the door the receptacle and biasing the door in an open position and one or more door strings connecting the door to the displacing means whereby the displacing means pulls on the door strings to displace the door to a closed position.

Preferably, the device further comprises a hollow stabilising rod slidingly engaged with the handle whereby the at least one movable rod comprises two movable rods and the displacing string is connected to the string end of each of the tow movable rods, threaded through the hollow stabilising rod and connected to the other end of the movable rods.

Preferably, the tension in the displacing string is produced by the gravitational pull of the weight of the receptacle.

Preferably, the device further comprises a disposable bag contained in the receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is a perspective view of the device in an open state.

FIG 2 is a perspective of the device in a closed state.

FIG 3 is a perspective of the handle when the device is in the open state.

FIG 4 is a perspective of the handle when the device is in the closed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, the invention is represented as a device comprising a receptacle 100, a cover 200, at least one compressing means 300 and at least one displacing means 400.

The receptacle 100 has an inlet opening 110 at one end, a closed surface 120 on the other end and a bottom surface 130 and a bag (not shown).

The compressing means 300 is connected at one end 310 to the cover 200 and at the other end 320 to the receptacle 100. In the preferred embodiment, the compressing means comprises two movable rods 340 and 350, which will be more particularly described below, contained in each of which is a spring 330 and 332 each of which is compression biased and extends to make contact with the closed surface 120 of the receptacle 100. However, the compressing means 300 can also comprise one or more springs independently connecting the cover to the receptacle.

The displacing means 400 connects the cover 200 to the receptacle 100 and comprises a handle 420, the two movable rods 340 and 350, a displacing string 460 and four pulleys 480, 482, 484 and 486. The movable rods 340 and 350 are fixedly connected on one end 442 and 452 to the cover 100 and to the displacing string 460 on the other ends 444 and 454. The four pulleys 480, 482, 484 and 486 on the receptacle 100 support the displacing string 460. Two hollow guiding rods 490 and 492 holds each of the movable rod 340 in place.

The handle 420 comprises three telescopically connected three handle rods, namely an outermost handle rod 422, a second handle rod 424 and an innermost handle rod 426 which can be maintained at either a telescopically shortened state (FIG. 3) or a telescopically extended state (FIG. 4). A switch (not shown) mechanically locks the three telescopically connected handle rods 422, 424 and 426 in the telescopically shortened stage.

The switch (not shown) can take several forms. One form is that typically used in umbrellas. A pin (not shown) holds the three telescopically connected handle rods 422, 424 and 426 in place. The pin (not shown) is dislodged by pressing on a spring loaded button (not shown) and in turn the three telescopically connected handle rods 422, 424 and 426 are released.

There is a longitudinal groove 413 along the surface of the outermost the handle rod 422. A hook 428 fixedly connects a stabilising hollow rod 430 to the second handle rod 424. The hook 428 slides along the longitudinal groove 413 thus enabling the stabilising hollow rod 430 to slide up and down the outermost handle rod 422 while remaining fixed to the second handle rod 424. The stabilising rod 430 is at all times perpendicular to the handle and parallel or in the same plane as the closed surface 120 of the receptacle 100.

One end 462 of the displacing string 460 is connected to one of the movable rods 340 at the other end 444. The other end 464 runs through the two pulleys 480 and 482, threads through the stabilising hollow rod 430, runs through another two pulleys 484 and 486 and is connected to the other movable rod 350 at the other end 454.

A door 140 is connected to the bottom surface 130 of the receptacle by way of one or more door hinges 142. The door hinges 142 are spring loaded so as to bias the door in a closed position whereby the door 140 is in the same place as the bottom surface 130. A door string 144 is connected at one end to a free end 146 of the door 140, passes through two pulleys 148, and connected at another end 147 to each end 442 and 452 of the two movable rods 340 and 350.

The cover 200 comprises a surface 210 of at least the same size as the inlet opening and a perpendicular surface 220.

The device is maintained in an open state (FIG. 1), whereby the inlet opening 110 is exposed, or a closed state (FIG. 2), whereby the cover 200 covers the inlet opening 110 thus enclosing the receptacle 100.

When the device is in a closed state, no tension is maintained in either the displacing string 460 or the door string 144. The compressing means 300 holds the cover 200 in a position enclosing the inlet opening 110 of the receptacle 100. The spring loaded door hinges 142 maintain the door 140 in the same plane as the bottom surface 130 of the receptacle 100.

The device is toggled to the open state by pressing on the switch (not shown) with the bottom surface 130 of the receptacle 100 facing the ground. The switch (not shown) unlocks the three telescopically connected handle rods 422, 424 and 426 and the weight of the receptacle 100 pulls the three telescopically connected handle rods 422, 424 and 426 to a telescopically extended position (FIG. 2). When the three telescopically connected handle rods 422, 424 and 426 are pulled to a telescopically extended position, the stabilising hollow rod 430 is pulled upwards which in turn produces tension on the displacing string 460 which pulls the movable rods 340 and 350 away from the closed surface 120. The movable rods 340 and 350 also produce tension on the door string 144 to pull the door 140 to a position which is angular to the bottom surface 130, preventing any waste contained in the receptacle 100 from dropping out.

The device is toggled back to the closed position by resting the receptacle 100 on any flat surface and releasing the handle 420. The compressing means 300 operates to pull the cover 200 back to enclose the inlet opening 110 and at same time the handle 420 to the telescopically shortened position. The resulting movement of the movable rods 340 and 350 releases the tension on the door string 144. The spring loaded door hinges 142 will bias the door 140 back to its closed position.

Waste on the ground is collected by First toggling the device to its open state. The device is then placed over the waste such that the waste rests between the inlet opening 110 and

the cover 200. The device is then toggled back to the closed position, which in the process, scoops the waste into the receptacle 100.

Ideally, a disposable bag (not shown) should be placed inside the receptacle 100 before use. After use, the disposable bag (not shown) can be removed from the receptacle 100 and discarded. A new disposable bag 180 can then be placed inside the receptacle 100.

Other embodiments envisage having only two instead of three handle rods if the receptacle is heavy enough.