Description Field of the art

The present invention refers to the field of devices adapted to contribute to keeping public places clean. More in detail, the present invention refers to the field of devices suitable for the recovery of the feces of animals, typically dogs, in order to keep clean public places such as public streets, sidewalks, small gardens, parks etc.

State of the art

Sidewalks, streets and many other public places that are dirty due to the presence of animal excrement is a problem felt in many places. Quite often the presence of animal feces, typically of dogs, in the aforesaid places is due not only to the circulation of stray dogs, but also to the undisciplined attitude of many people who - even if they could remedy the aforesaid problem - do not take care to collect and eliminate the feces of their own dog. Even if over the last few years various devices have been made and sold for assisting dog owners in the removal of their dog's feces from public places, many people still do not use such means. Sometimes, not picking up the feces can be due to the device itself. Typically this is a kit comprising a small shovel and a bag which, once the excrement is collected therein, would be subsequently thrown away in an organic waste collection bin. This system, even if practical and efficient, is still not very appreciated by many people, since it is necessary to carry relatively bulky objects and because it requires the person to complete operations that impose a non-negligible, undesired vicinity to the excrement itself. The above involves the risk of sensing foul odors, and in decidedly more dangerous cases, contracting infectious diseases. For such purpose, different device types have been made, sometimes also including electrical and mechanical systems, like the most modern portable aspirators/burners, in order to limit as much as possible the risk that the person comes into contact with the animal feces. Object of the present industrial invention patent application, described in detail hereinbelow, is that of proposing a new device adapted to collect the animal feces which is not very bulky, is inexpensive, biodegradable, and which considerably reduces the risk of the user coming into contact with the excrement during the collection thereof.

Description of the invention

The present industrial invention patent application refers to a new device adapted to collect organic waste of animal nature from public places such as sidewalks, streets, public gardens and parks and the like. More in detail the present description refers to a device for removing the feces of animals, typically of dogs, from the aforesaid public places, not only in order to contribute to keeping public spaces clean, but also to offer the user of said device various advantages during its use. In primis, that of using a device that is not very bulky, in some embodiments even being pocket-size, which is biodegradable and which reduces the risk that the user comes close to the feces during the collection thereof. Still more in detail the present description refers to a box-like device, made of biodegradable material, preferably of paper material such as cardboard, with a rigidity such to allow a configuration of the device that makes it foldable and not very bulky and a configuration that makes it box-like, hence arranged for the use thereof. The present device, when in box-like form, is internally hollow in a manner so as to collect the feces, and it more specifically appears as a parallelepiped structure comprising two boxes, wherein a smaller box is inserted inside a larger box in which said smaller box is free to slide like a drawer. The larger outer box has one of its side faces open, in a manner so as to facilitate the entrance/exit, hence the sliding, of the smaller box. For the device to function it is necessary that the smaller-size box also has an open face. In particular, such open face is to be frontally arranged with respect to the open face of the larger box in which the smaller box is inserted. Still more in detail, for the device to effectively function, it is essential that the larger box, in addition to having at least one open face, has at least one hole on one of the faces orthogonal to the open side face. In particular, such hole is situated on the face to be arranged on the ground portion on which the organic waste to be collected is abuttable. The structural characteristics of the device allow the latter to be used in the following way: the present device initially appears in relatively thin, rigid leaflet-like folded configuration. In this configuration, the device is not very bulky and can be advantageously contained within any one bag, such as a handbag, a backpack and the like, or even inside a pocket of a garment, such as rear pants pockets. Once the device is extracted, this is brought into box-like form with a simple manual movement that consists of exerting a mild pressure on the opposite side edges of the device. Subsequently, the smaller box is extracted from the larger box, like a coulisse, for about ⁴ /s of its length. In this configuration, the device is ready to be used. More in detail, said device is arranged on the ground in a manner such that the hole present on the outer box surrounds the dog feces. At this point, one proceeds by using only one's feet, leaving one's hands completely free, allowing the best control of possible unexpected movements of the dog during the feces collection operation. The box closing operations are "photographically" illustrated on the box itself - absolutely not using texts, which would oblige the use of many different languages. Said operation is carried out by setting one foot flush with one end of the device, clearly indicated on the box itself, the other foot pushing against the box from the opposite side until total closure is achieved. In this configuration, the dog feces are inserted within of the device.

The present device is also provided with two pairs of flaps abuttable on the side edges of the open faces of the inner and outer box. More in detail, the first pair is such to have its flaps extended outside the side edges of the open face of the inner box - hence towards the outside of said inner box - while the second pair is such to have its flaps extended inside the side edges of the open face of the outer box, hence towards the inside of said outer box. This spatial configuration of the two pairs of flaps is such to ensure that the box-like device does not accidentally open once the feces have been inserted therein. The box thus closed is also provided with an appendage of adhesive material, typically adhesive paper, ecological and laterally fixed, with one end thereof, to the device. The film, typically made of silicone material, is then removed from the appendage of adhesive material, and the adhesive paper is wound around the box, completely hiding the hole for the entrance of the feces. With such operation, possible traces of excrement present on the edges of the window are hidden. All of the above has limited, as much as possible, the indirect contact between the user and the feces. The user in fact makes use of a simple movement of his/her foot in order to close the device in box-like "closed" configuration, thus preventing the use of one's hands. Once wound with the appendage of adhesive paper, the device does not have any contaminated zone dirtied with the organic waste, hence this means is decidedly more hygienic than conventional systems.

Brief description of the drawings

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the device 1 for collecting the organic waste of animals from public places. More in detail, the figure in question shows the device 1 in rigid leaflet-like folded configuration. Said device, preferably made of cardboard, comprises the foldable inner box 2 and the foldable outer box 3. The inner box 2 is inserted in the outer box 3. The figure also shows the side edges 4 of the device 1 on which a mild manual pressure is exerted, in order to bring said device 1 into its box-like configuration (not shown in the figure in question). The figure also shows that, on the face 6, to be arranged on the ground portion on which the waste is abuttable, at least one hole 7 is present, with profile defined by any closed curve or polygonal form, through which said waste is inserted into the present device 1.

FIGURE 2 shows a perspective view of the device 1 in its box-like configuration. More in detail the figure in question shows the inner box 2 inserted in the drawer-like outer box 3. On said outer box 3, the hole 7 is observable, present on the face 6 of the device 1. Also observable are the side edges 4 and the side edges 5 of the box-like profile of said device 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a perspective view of the device 1 in its box-like configuration. More in detail the figure in question is similar to the preceding figure 2, but differs from this due to the fact that the device 1 is shown when it is ready to be set on the ground on which the organic waste to be collected is present. Still more in detail, the figure in question shows the inner box 2 extracted for about ⁴ /s of its length from the outer box 3. In this configuration the device 1 is set on the ground, in a manner such that the hole 7, present on the face 6, entirely surrounds the organic waste to be collected. Subsequently, with a simple movement of the hand, or even of the foot, the inner box 2 is once again inserted in the box 3. This movement induces the removal of the waste from the ground and its insertion within the device. It is important to underline that both the inner box 2 and the outer box 3 have an open face. More in detail the inner box 2 possesses the open face 2' to be directed and inserted through the corresponding open face 3' of the outer box 3.

FIGURE 4 shows an exploded and detailed perspective view of the device 1 provided with the appendage 8 adapted to wind around the device 1, in box-like form, when the excrement removed from the ground is contained therein. Said appendage is preferably made of adhesive paper and is fixed, with one end thereof, to one of the side edges of the device 1. In addition, said appendage 8 is covered by a protective film 8' that can be removed if necessary. FIGURE 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the device 1 in box-like configuration. More in detail the figure in question intends to show the open face 2' of the inner box 2, to be inserted in the corresponding open face 3' of the outer box 3. The figure also shows that the device 1 also comprises two pairs of flaps. More in detail the device 1 comprises a first pair of flaps 13 abuttable on the side edges 11 of the open face 2' of the inner box 2, and a second pair of flaps 14 abuttable on the side edges 12 of the open face 3' of the outer box 3. The flaps 13 are extended towards the outside of the inner box 2 while the flaps 14 are extended towards the inside of the outer box 3. This spatial configuration of the flaps is such to prevent the accidental opening of the device once the organic waste of the animal has been inserted therein.

FIGURE 6 shows an exploded and detailed perspective view of the device 1 in a particular embodiment of the present invention. More in detail, the figure in question shows that the projection 9 can be observed on the lower edge 10 of the open face 2' of the inner box 2. Said projection 9 is connected to the lower edge 10 of the open face 2' of the inner box 2 with systems and means of known type, e.g. via insertion and gluing of the flat portion 9", opposite the triangular portion 9' of said projection 9, within the thickness of the material of the edge 10.

Description of the preferred embodiments

In all its embodiments, the device 1 for collecting the animal organic solid waste, typically of dogs, object of the present industrial invention patent application comprises: a foldable inner box 2 and an outer box 3, also foldable. Said device 1 also has two configurations: a folded configuration in which it is rigid and leaflet-like, and a box-like configuration in which the device is in the form of a parallelepiped box. In its folded configuration, the inner box 2 is fully inserted, in folded form, within the outer box 3, also folded. Also in its boxlike configuration, the inner box 2 is inserted in the outer box 3 and is free to slide inside said drawer-like outer box 3. More in detail, the device 1 is brought from the folded configuration to the box-like configuration by exerting a relatively mild pressure on the side edges 4 of the device 1, in a manner so as to define the side edges 5 and, overall, the box-like profile of said device 1. Also in this configuration, the inner box 2 is inserted in the outer box 3 and is free to slide, within the latter, as if it was a small drawer. In order for the device 1 to correctly and effectively function for the purposes for which it was obtained, it is necessary for the inner box 2 to have an open face oriented towards a corresponding open face of the outer box 3. Said inner box 2 in fact has the open face 2' directed towards the corresponding open face 3' of the outer box 3. More clearly, said open face 3' represents the entrance of the inner box 2 in the outer box 3. The latter also has, on one of its faces orthogonal to said open face 3', at least one hole with profile defined by any closed curve or polygonal form. More in detail said outer box 3 has, on its face 6 to be directed towards the ground, at least one hole 7 through which the organic waste of the animal is inserted. Still more in detail, the device functions as follows: 1) bringing said device into its box-like configuration; 2) extracting the inner box 2 from the outer box 3 for about ⁴ /s of its length, hence leaving a small portion of the inner box 2 inserted in the outer box 3; 3) arranging the device 1 on the ground, directing the face 6 to the ground in a manner such that the hole 7, present thereon, totally surrounds the organic waste to be collected; 4) pushing (by moving one foot against and towards the other foot) the inner box 2 inside the outer box 3; 5) collecting the device 1 from the ground; 6) winding the device 1 with at least one appendage 8, comprising an adhesive material, preferably made of adhesive paper and covered by a protective film 8' that can be removed. Said appendage 8 is fixed with one end thereof to one of the side edges of the device 1; 7) throwing the device 1 away in a suitable organic waste collection bin. The device 1, as mentioned above, is also provided with two pairs of flaps which contribute to ensuring that said device 1 does not open when the feces are inserted therein. More in detail, the device 1 comprises, on the side edges 11 of the open face 2' of the inner box 2, a first pair of flaps 13 extended towards the outside of said edges 11, hence towards the outside of the inner box 2, while on the side edges 12 of the outer box 3, a second pair of flaps 14 extended towards the inside of said edges 12, hence towards the inside of the outer box 3, is abuttable.

In order to aid the removal of the waste from the ground, one particular embodiment of the invention provides that, on the lower edge 10 of the open face 2' of the box 2, a projection 9 is abuttable that has triangular profile and is made of stiffer material with respect to that with which the inner box 2 and the outer box 3 are obtained. Said projection 9 is preferably, but not necessarily, made of wood but also metals or any one thermoplastic polymer or ceramic or composite material can be used. Alternatively, another embodiment of the invention provides that the same lower edge 10 of the open face 2' of the inner box 2 has the aforesaid triangular profile and is provided with a greater amount of paper material, such to render it stiffer overall with respect to the other parts of the device 1. In this embodiment, the projection 9 is therefore represented by the same lower edge 10 of the open face 2' .

In its preferred embodiment, the device 1 comprises the inner box 2 and the outer box 3 made of cardboard.

The size of present device 1 is variable. More in detail the device 1 has a 8 cm x 5 cm x 2 cm minimal size and a hole 7 having surface area of at least 6 cm .