TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of personal devices for collecting dog feces.

BACKGROUND ART The following patent publications are considered by the inventor as the closest prior art:

US Patent Number 4,185,355 discloses "A method and apparatus for cleaning up an animal feces deposit from its situs by positioning an open-ended receptacle with its open end overlying and in close proximity to the animal feces deposit and providing a suction to pick up the animal feces deposit and deliver same into the interior of the receptacle whereby the receptacle containing the picked up animal feces deposit can be discarded conveniently and cleaning up has been achieved without any physical contact with the animal feces deposit by the person performing the cleaning up."

US Patent Number 5,661,873 discloses "a vacuum system which provides a compact power unit that can accept and pass the full range of expected debris and waste from the pick up robe to the container and which directs the major portion of the exhaust air including entrained dust particles away from the user. The invention discloses disposable pick up tubes and storage containers which are low cost and easy to use which achieve their purposes of picking up, storing and disposing of waste and debris simply and easily."

US Patent Number 5,771,531 discloses "A vacuum is described which includes a housing having first, second, and third openings, a vacuum motor connected to the first opening of the housing, an elongated tube connected by one end to the second opening of the housing, and a receptacle removably connected to the third opening of the housing. The vacuum is useful for the removal and disposal of animal feces."

Additional prior art includes patent applications US 2004/0194248, US 2008/0030032, US 2006/0137132, US 2009/0070953, and WO 2004/107947.

All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the problem of personal apparatus for the needs of a human user when taking a dog to a walk.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a dog feces collecting apparatus (10), comprising:

- a dog feces collector (26, 28, 14); and

- a dog leash (24);

- thereby providing a apparatus comprising major functionalities required when taking a walk with a dog.

Preferably, the dog feces collector employs no vacuuming means, thereby allowing designing the apparatus in a compact manner.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the dog feces collector comprises :

a telescopic rod (28), expanding downwards from the apparatus (10) (with regard to the orientation of Fig. 2);

- two shovels (26), each pivotally connected to a lower side (30) of the rod (28), the shovels having a closed state (illustrated in Fig. 3) in which a lower side of each shovel meets the lower side (26') of the other shovel, thereby generating a receptacle, and an open state in which the receptacle opens; and

a motor (32) for turning the shovels from the open state to the closed state, and vice versa. The apparatus may further comprise a motor (40) for expanding the telescopic rod (28) from a casing of the apparatus, and vice versa. According to one embodiment of the invention, the leash

(24) is expandable by a springy roll, on which the leash is rolled.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises buttons (14), for allowing a user of the apparatus to control an operation of the apparatus.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the buttons (14) comprise^

- an ON button, which causes the rod (28) to unfold (i.e., expand) and turn the shovels (26) to the open state! and - an OFF state, which turns the shovels (26) to the closed state, and fold the rod (28) back. According to one embodiment of the invention, the shovels (26) are a part of a casing of the apparatus (10). (As illustrated in Fig. 2)

The apparatus may further comprise a foil (36) having sticky straps (38) on two opposites edges thereof, for attaching the foil to the shovels (28), thereby allowing disposing the foil after use. The apparatus may further comprise a bag (54) having sticky straps (38) on two opposites edges thereof, for attaching the foil to the shovels (28), thereby allowing disposing the foil after use.

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings ^' ■

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a user operating a dog feces collecting apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 further details the dog feces collecting apparatus of Fig 1. The apparatus is in its idle state. Fig. 3 further details the dog feces collecting apparatus of Fig 1.

Each of Figs. 4 and 5 further details the dog feces collecting apparatus of Fig 1.

Each of Figs. 6 and 7 further details the dog feces collecting apparatus of Fig 1.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments ("best mode"), which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. The apparatus is based on consolidation of two basic elements of taking a dog to a walk: a dog feces collector and a dog leash. The result is a portable apparatus which comprises the major functionalities required when taking a walk with a dog.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a user operating a dog feces collecting apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a dog feces collecting apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

In the figure, the user holds the dog feces collecting apparatus 10 in his hand 46, and activates the apparatus by pressing buttons 14, which are disposed thereon.

While operating the apparatus, the dog 44 is leashed by leash 24, which is connected to the apparatus 10. The apparatus combines two basic elements of taking a dog for a walk: a dog feces collector and a dog leash, thereby providing the most required needs when taking a dog for a walk.

Fig. 2 further details the dog feces collecting apparatus of Fig 1. The apparatus is in its idle state.

The leash 24 is rolled around a springy roll 18. Numeral 16 denotes a lock, for enabling / disabling the rotation of roller 18, thereby enabling / disabling changing the length of the exposed portion of leash 24.

At the end of the leash 24 is connected a springy link 22, which connects to the dog collar.

Numeral 20 denotes a lid of a battery compartment.

Numeral 26 denotes a shovel, for collecting dog feces, as will be further detailed.

As illustrated, apparatus 10 is compact and portable. These characteristics are achieved by avoiding using vacuuming means, which by their nature are not compact.

Fig. 3 further details the dog feces collecting apparatus of Fig 1. It illustrates the first state in the operation of the apparatus, which takes place upon pressing an ON button of buttons 14. Upon activating the ON button, a telescopic rod 28 unfolds, i.e., expands. The user controls the length of the rod by the operational buttons 14. For example, as long as the ON button is pressed, the rod expands, and upon releasing the ON button, the expansion ceases. Of course, the latter takes place automatically when rod 28 reaches to its maximum length.

Each of Figs. 4 and 5 further details the dog feces collecting apparatus of Fig 1. As mentioned, the apparatus comprises a dog feces collector; and a dog leash.

The dog feces collector comprises^ a telescopic rod 28, expanding downwards (with regard to the orientation of Fig. 2) from apparatus 10, and two shovels 26, each pivotally connected to the lower side 30 of rod 28. The shovels have a closed state (illustrated in Fig. 3) in which a lower side 26' of each shovel meets the lower side 26' of the other shovel, thereby generating a receptacle 52, and an open state in which the receptacle 52 opens. The collector also comprises a first motor 40, for unfolding and folding the telescopic rod 28, and a second motor 32 for turning the shovels from the open state to the closed state, and vice versa. As mentioned, the apparatus employs two operational buttons 14. One of the buttons is referred to herein as the "ON" button, and the other is referred to herein as the "OFF" button.

Upon pressing and holding the ON button, rod 28 unfolds (i.e., expands), and shovels 26 turn to their open state, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Each of shovels 26 rotates around hinge 56, which also connects the shovel to element 30, which consists of the lower side of rod 28. Also illustrated in these figures is a transmission 34, which transmits the power of motors 32 to shovels 26.

Upon pressing and holding the OFF button, shovels 26 return to their closed state, and after a short delay (e.g., 1 second), rod 28 folds back.

Upon releasing the ON and OFF buttons, the apparatus remains in its current state.

Thus, in order to collect dog feces, a user presses the ON button, resulting in expanding rod 28 to a desired length and turning shovels 28 to their open state. The user places the apparatus such that the dog feces is disposed between shovels, and presses the OFF button. As a result, the shovels return to their closed state, thereby generating a receptacle 52 (seen in Fig. 3), in which the dog feces is disposed. In this situation, the user takes the apparatus to the nearest trash can, places the lower side of the apparatus (in which the feces is disposed) in the can, and presses the ON button. As a result, the shovels turn back to their ON state, resulting in releasing the dog feces into the trash can.

Afterwards, the user presses the OFF button, resulting in turning the shovels into their close state, and folding back the rod.

Each of Figs. 6 and 7 further details the dog feces collecting apparatus of Fig 1. Referring to Fig. 6, a user may use a foil 36 to cover the inner side of the shovels, i.e., the side that comes in contact with the dog feces, and to get rid of the foil after use. The foil may be made of paper, plastic, etc. In order to attach it to the shovels, the foil comprises two sticky straps 38.

Referring to Fig. 7, the user may use a plastic bag 54, which may be used in the same manner (i.e., sticky straps).

In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:

- numeral 10 denotes a dog feces collecting apparatus;

numeral 12 denotes a handle! numeral 14 denotes operational buttons! numeral 16 denotes a lock, for enabling / disabling the rotation of roller 18, thereby enabling / disabling changing the length of the exposed leash;

■ numeral 18 denotes a roller in which is installed a springy wheel to which lash 24 is connected;

numeral 20 denotes a lid of a battery compartment;

numeral 22 denotes a link;

numeral 24 denotes a lash;

■ numeral 26 denotes collecting shovels;

numeral 26' denotes an edge of a shovel;

numeral 28 denotes a telescopic rod;

numeral 30 denotes a base element, consisting of the lower side of rod 28;

■ numeral 32 denotes a motor, for rotating shovels 26;

numeral 34 denotes a transmission through which motor 32 rotates shovels 26;

- numeral 36 denotes a bag;

- numeral 38 denotes a sticky strap;

■ numeral 40 denotes an electric motor;

numeral 42 denotes a battery;

numeral 44 denotes a dog;

numeral 46 denotes a user hand;

numeral 48 denotes a trash can;

■ numeral 50 denotes dog feces;

numeral 52 denotes a receptacle generated by said shovels

(26) when the edges thereof (26') meet;

numeral 54 denotes a bag; and numeral 56 denotes a hinge connecting a shovel 26 to element 30.

The following patent publications have been mentioned: US Patent publications 4,185,355, 5,661,873, 5,771,531, 2004/0194248, 2008/0030032, 2006/0137132, 2009/0070953, and WO 2004/107947.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.