More particularly, but not exclusively, the apparatus is of a type which can be used collect excrement and store same within the apparatus for later deposit in a receptacle. The present invention as described herein is principally directed to apparatus for collection of animal excrement, but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this is by way of example only. The collection apparatus can have other applications in collecting waste material from a ground or some other surface.

Increasingly, owners of pet animals, more particularly dogs, are required to collect animal excrement from public places.

Indeed, regional authorities now generally make it an offence for pet owners to leave animal excrement in a public place. Therefore, pet owners walking their pets in public places need to carry with them some means of collecting the

excrement for later depositing in an appropriate receptacle.

It is now becoming common for regional authorities to provide collection points in which the excrement can be deposited.

Apparatus commonly referred to as"pooper scoopers"are known. These enable the pet owner to scrape the excrement into a container or housing. However, these apparatus generally require the pet owner to bend down to carry out the"pooper scooper"operation.

A certain degree of social stigma is attached to the pet owner being seen to carry out this operation. Also, with some pooper scoopers, the end result is the pet owner having to carry a bag containing the excrement. Once again, there is a social stigma attached to being seen to do so exists.

Also, there is the potential of a health hazard to the user.

Still further, there are pooper scoopers known which actually make contact with the excrement in carrying out the operation. This results in the apparatus itself becoming soiled by the waste material. Therefore, not only is smell a factor, but also a need for the pet owner to clean the apparatus as soon as possible after use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved waste material collection apparatus which overcomes or goes some way to overcoming the above- identified disadvantages with known apparatus or at least to provide an apparatus which gives the public a useful choice.

Broadly according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste collection apparatus including a housing in which a flexible container with an open mouth can be located, container engagement elements with which the flexible container is engageable and operating means remote from the housing for manipulating the engagement elements to enlarge the mouth of the container such that the mouth can be located over waste material to be collected.

In the following more detailed description of the invention according to a preferred form, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the apparatus when in its"closed"and ready to use configuration,

Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the apparatus when in the"closed"configuration shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a similar view but showing the apparatus with the collector housing removed, Figure 4 is a perspective view from below of the apparatus with the open end of the plastic bag locked closed, Figure 5 is a perspective view from below of the apparatus when in the"open"configuration, Figure 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the collector housing removed, and in the',, open"" configuration, Figure 7 is a similar view with the collector housing fitted, Figure 8 is a perspective view of the plastic bag and its attachment clips,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the fingers as coupled together in their"open"configuration, and Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus in the "closed"or ready to use position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The apparatus according to the present invention is formed so that principally it takes on the appearance of a walking stick. As a result, the pet owner can use the device as a walking stick or carry the apparatus so that it appears that the pet owner is simply carrying a walking stick and not a pooper scooper. A further advantage of the walking stick configuration of the apparatus is that it can be used for protection of the pet owner from the unwanted attention of other dogs. This purpose can be achieved whether the apparatus is empty or contains excrement which has been previously picked up.

According to the invention therefore, the apparatus comprises a handle 10 and an elongate body 11 which extends from the handle 10. The body 11 which is in the form of a sheath, extends to a lower end where it couples to a

collector housing 12 which is substantially of flaring outwardly circular cross-section. This is illustrated in Figure 1.

A slide handle 13 is coupled to sliding shaft 14, (by locking pin 15) and is slidingly mounted on body 11. The sliding shaft 14 is slidingly located within body 11. The distal end of sliding shaft 14 is connected to retainer mechanism 16, and a plurality of wire fingers 17 the latter preferably made from stiff wire.

Locking pin 15 extends through opposed elongate slots 18 in the wall of body 11 and is connected to the sliding shaft 14. This enables slide handle 13, and therefore sliding shaft 14, to be moved axially relative to the longitudinal axis of the body 11. Thus, slide handle 13 can be moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 5.

In the preferred form locking means are provided with the slide handle 13 to permit the handle 13 to be locked into selected positions relative to the longitudinal axis of body 11. The locking means could be of a type where part of the handle 13 can be rotated to grip the body 11 and hence lock the slide handle 13 against sliding movement.

When slide handle 13 is pushed down so as to move relative to body 11, fingers 17 coupled to retainer mechanism 16 slide within collector housing 12.

The upper edge of retainer mechanism 16 contains recesses to locate a plurality of fingers 19. Locating holes are provided in the underside of retainer mechanism 16 for the coupling of a plurality of fingers 20. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the collector housing 12 is of circular cross-section, with a transition 21 and 22.

Transition 22 contains a plurality of recesses for the location of fingers 19 and 20.

Figure 2 shows that when the fingers 17 are fully contained within the collector housing 12, the ends of the fingers 17 are at their closest approach. However, as the sliding shaft 14 is moved down the sheath body 11, the fingers 17 start to project from the collector housing 12. The fingers 17 are of a springy nature, thus, as they project from the open lower end of the collector housing 12, they automatically splay outwardly till they reach the position shown in Figure 5 i. e. the ends of fingers 17 are at their maximum distance apart.

As shown in Figure 9, the fingers 19 are coupled to retainers 23 that engage with scoop clips 24. Scoop clip 24 on the left side of Figure 9 is shown with retainer 23 omitted. Flaps 25 of scoop clips 24 overlap as the fingers 17 are drawn back into the collector housing 12, as is illustrated in Figure 2. The full extent of overlapping is achieved when the apparatus is in its fully closed position as shown in Figure 4. The flaps 25 are located in a spaced apart array when the fingers 17 are fully extended from the collector housing 12, as is illustrated in Figure 5.

Retainers 23 are coupled to the distal end of at least two fingers 19. Retainer 23 is generally rectangular in shape and of curved profile, containing at least two rectangular holes 26 and at least two finger location means 27. Tab 28 to the upper edge of retainer 23 is folded inwards and normal to retainer 23.

Illustrated in Figure 8 is a plastic bag 29 which, in use, is located within the area defined by the fingers 17. To the circumference of the open end of the bag are at least four spaced apart scoop clips 24. Each scoop clip 25 engages with a retainer 23 so as to fix the mouth of the bag 29 into position.

Scoop clip 24 is generally of rectangular shape and of curved profile. At one of its side edges is an elongate engaging tab 30. At the opposing edge of the next adjacent clip 25 is clip cage 31. Centrally located to the lower edge of scoop clip 24 is tab 32, and at least two elongate recesses forming retainer locking tab 34. The base of retainer locking tab 34 is substantially cylindrical to provide a locking action when clip 24 is coupled to retainer 23. Flap 25 is provided at the lower edge of scoop 24, its leading edge being chamfered.

In order for scoop clip 24 to engage with retainer 23, the upper edge of scoop clip 24 is engaged by tab 28 of retainer 23, whist concurrently tab 32 engages the lower edge of retainer 23 and tab 34 engages in hole 26. In this assembled position the bag is clipped securely in position by the four pairs of scoop clips 24 and retainers 23.

In use therefore, the pet owner wishing to uplift waste material, will unlock and move the slide handle 13 relative to the body 11, to position A, as illustrated in Figure 7, so as to cause the fingers 17 to project from the collector housing 12. This results in the mouth of the bag 29 being opened, thereby creating an enlarged mouth opening 35 which can be placed over the waste material. The apparatus is

positioned over the waste material with the flap portion 25 of scoop clip 23 being placed in contact with the ground.

The user holds slide handle 13 stationary, and simply pushes handle 10 toward the ground, whilst flaps 25 maintains contact with the ground. This causes the fingers 17 to start to retract within collector housing 12. This action moves the flaps 25 inwards until in the fully retracted position, and until handle 13 is located at position C as illustrated in Figure 7, enclosing the waste material within the bag 29.

Figure 4 illustrates the flaps 25 in their fully retracted positions.

The thus closed bag 29 is drawn up into the collector housing 12 by the retraction of the fingers 17 and flaps 25.

Fingers 20 keep the bag 29 fully open when the bag is extended in the open position prior to collection of the waste material, as is illustrated in Figure 5. They also can guide the plastic bag 29 and its contents into the centre of the collector housing 12 as the bag 29 collapses.

To release the bag 29 from the apparatus the user slides handle 13 upwardly to the position D as shown in Figure 7.

This results in the sliding shaft 14 moving upwards to a position where the perimeter of bag 29 is locked and becomes

released from the retainers. This arises because tabs 32 of scoop clips 24 contact transition 22, as is illustrated by Figure 10. The engagement between retainers 23 and scoop clips 24 is thereby broken, as retainer 23 on fingers 17 continue to travel further into collector housing 12.

In the aforementioned operation, the perimeter of bag 29 becomes locked to prevent the bag contents from spilling as it is disposed of. As slide handle 13 is moved upwards, fingers 17 are drawn in to the narrower section of the collector housing 12, resulting in the ends of fingers 17 being in closer proximity. Thus locking tab 30 of a scoop clip 24 engages with clip cage 31 on the next adjacent scoop moulding clip 24. The scoop clips 24 lock together thereby locking closed the open end of the plastic bag.

The bag 29 with enclosed waste material can reside in the collector housing 12 until the user wishes to empty or dispose of the bag. At this time, to release the bag 29 from the apparatus the procedure is reversed with the open end of the collector housing 12 located above a suitable receptacle, so as to allow, when the fingers extend, the bag and waste material drop out from the apparatus and into the receptacle. The apparatus may then be reloaded with a new bag to be ready to collect more waste material.

The present invention thus provides a waste material collector which takes on the appearance of a utilitarian article such as a walking stick. Therefore, the apparatus is not generally seen as forming a pooper scooper. The apparatus can be discreetly used without the user having to bend or stoop down to manipulate anything in the immediate proximity of the animal droppings.

With the droppings contained within the closed bag in the collector housing 12, the apparatus can be used in a conventional manner as a walking stick or simply carried as a deterrent against any unwanted attention by another dog.

When the user reaches a receptacle intended for disposal of such waste material, the user can once again quickly manipulate the apparatus so as to release the bag of waste material into the receptacle.

In use of the apparatus, none of the apparatus itself comes into contact with the waste material. Consequently, if after disposing of the filled bag, the user wishes to refit the bag, it can be readily carried out without any significant hygiene problems arising.

The handle 10 could be formed in a manner whereby it provides a hollow area into which one or more unused bags

can be stored. Thus, in a modified form of the invention, the handle will be formed hollow such as by plastic moulding and will have an opening (preferably covered by a hinged lid, cover, door or the like) wherein unused bags can be stored.

In a preferred form of the invention, a locking arrangement is provided so that the slide handle 13 cannot be inadvertently moved relative to the body 11. a detent action is provided in recess 18 for the engagement of locking pin 15, which in the illustrated form of the invention, enables the slide handle 13 to be located in controlled positions for use. Thus, the user can simply manipulate the position of handle 13 as desired to allow the fingers 17 to be extended from the collector housing 12.