CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application

Ser. No. 62/451,268 filed January 27, 2017, entitled "Scooper," which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Animal waste collection is a daily occurrence for those who must walk their pets in public areas and typically the pet must be kept on a leash during such walks. Sometimes, this daily task must be performed at night or other times when visibility is limited. Thus, there is a need for animal waste collection devices that provide features that facilitate safe and complete waste collection in a variety of situations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the embodiments of the invention there is shown a waste collection apparatus device comprising a support shaft having a grip, a receptacle portion, a scoop device, a cage portion, a wire latch system, and a latch mechanism, and details of these features are described in detail in the foregoing sections of this Specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0005] FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a scooper, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0006] FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the lower portion of the scooper with a gate opened, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0007] FIGURE 3 shows a side view of the lower portion of the scooper with the gate closed, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] FIGURE 4 shows a perspective view of a cage portion of the scooper according to an embodiment of the present invention with bags in place;

[0009] FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of a cage portion of the scooper according to an embodiment of the present invention with a flashlight in place; [0010] FIGURE 6 shows a view of an expanded container of the scooper according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIGURE 7 shows a perspective view of a lower portion of the scooper with points of a plurality of teeth in a straight line, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIGURE 8 shows a perspective view of a lower portion of the scooper with points of the plurality of teeth in a concave curve, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0013] FIGURE 9 shows a perspective view of a scooper with a curved upper handle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The following detailed description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the invention. Descriptions of specific applications are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0015] In the instant invention, FIGURE 1 describes a first embodiment of the present invention, where the scooper 199 comprises an upper handle 101, and a lower handle 102, which can be attached to the upper handle 101 by a fastening mechanism 103. A length of the handle can be increased or decreased into two-to-three lengths (using the fastening mechanism 103) based on a height of a user and his/her preferred length.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the instant invention, an adjustable handle can comprise at least one bolt 150 welded to the lower handle 102, at least two holes 155 made on the upper handle 101 configured to insert the bolt, and at least one nut 160 configured to be engaged to the bolt. The number of holes can be larger than the number of bolts. As shown in FIGURE 9, the upper handle 101 can have a curved portion 1501 on the side so that the lower handle 102 can move along the curved portion 1501 of the upper handle 101. [0017] In further embodiments of the instant invention, the lower handle 102 can have a cone-shaped cage 105 on one side (e.g., the front side as shown in FIGURE 5). In other embodiments, it should be understood that a cage of another shape, e.g., circular or rectangular, can be used. With reference now to FIGURE 5 of the Drawings, there is shown an expanded view of the cone-shaped cage 105. The cone-shaped cage 105 can hold a flashlight 501 for use in the dark or when it is otherwise hard to see. The flashlight 501 can point down toward a rake 106 (described in more detail below). The flashlight 501 can be a LED flashlight. The cone-shaped cage 105 can be made of wire. The wire used for the cone-shaped cage 105 can be thinner (e.g., half thickness) than the wire used for a rectangular cage 104 so that the wire does not obstruct the light. The cone-shaped cage 105 can comprise at least two circular diameter wires at the top and the bottom. The cone-shaped cage 105 can comprise additional circular diameter wires in between the top and the bottom. In some embodiments, the approximate dimensions of the cone-shaped cage 105 can be 1/2" (diameter at the bottom) and 1 1/4" (diameter at the top) x 2 1/2" (height), when the approximate dimensions of the flashlight is of the order 2 inches diameter x 6 inches height.

[0018] In additional embodiments of the instant invention, the lower handle 102 has a rectangular cage 104 on one side (e.g., the back side as shown in FIGURE 4). As above, in other embodiments, circular, rectangular or other shaped cages can be used. FIGURE 4 shows an expanded view of the rectangular cage 104. The rectangular cage 104 can hold bags, gloves, or other items used to handle waste. The bags can be taken out of the cage 104 and attached to a back side of a container 110 as described below. The bags, gloves or other items can also be used for picking up waste by hand. The bags, gloves or other items can be placed in the rectangular cage 104 as a set (e.g., a set of rolled bags 401). The rectangular cage 104 can comprise a slit 402 on one side in order to allow one bag, glove or other item to be extracted at a time. The approximate dimensions of the rectangular cage 104 depend on the type of bags, gloves or other items most commonly sold at pet stores for the purpose of picking up waste with one's hand. For example, for the bags, COTS (Common Of The Shelf) bags can be used. For example, the COTS bag called SOPHRESH distributed by International Pet Supplies an have approximate dimensions of 9" (length) (and when open it can have a perimeter of 18") x 14" (height) , and/or a COTS set of rolled bags, whose approximate dimension can be 1 3/8" (diameter) x 2 3/8" (height) with 30 bags when rolled.

[0019] In another example, gloves may be used. The bag, gloves or other items can be made from plastic or other material conducive to holding waste. The rectangular cage 104 can be made of wire. The bottom of the rectangular cage 104 can comprise of few pieces of wire so that the user can extract a set of rolled bags 401 from the rectangular cage 104 by pushing a bag from the bottom of the cage 104 using his/her fingers. In some embodiments, the approximate dimensions of the rectangular cage 104 can be 1 1/2" (depth and width) x 2 1/2" (height) with depth (or width) 1/4" slit 402, when the approximate dimensions of the set of rolled bags is 1 3/8" (diameter) x 2 3/8" (height). Those of ordinary skill in the art will see that the rectangular cage 104 can also be built in a size to accommodate many other sizes of bags, gloves, or other items used to hold the waste. [0020] It should be understood that the cone-shaped cage 105 and the rectangular cage 104 can be on the same side, different sides, or on opposite sides of the lower handle 102.

[0021] Further, the scooper 199 can comprise a container 110 coupled to the lower handle 102. The container 110 can comprise a top, a bottom, a right side, and a left side, where openings of the container face to a front side and a back side of the container. The container 110 can be a rectangular container.

[0022] In addition, the container 110 can be a continuation of a bent metal sheet

(manufacturer, product number), as described in FIGURE 6. The one end of the bent metal sheet can comprise an extra metal 601 which is extended enough that there is overlap with the other end of the bent metal sheet when these ends are connected together. This extra metal 601 can create the overlapping surface where the two ends of the bent metal sheet can be welded or soldered together to form the rectangle or other shapes. The extra length can come off the width end of the sheet, as that is bent 90 degrees to overlap with the top of the container when the shape of the container is rectangular. This extra metal 601 may be on the top of the container rather than either side (width of rectangle) where it might interfere with wires 111 coming down.

[0023] In addition, two extended pieces 602 can come out from the sheet metal that is at the top front of the container 110. Each extended piece 602 will have a hole in it to insert an upper bar of the gate 107 so that the gate 107 can rotate freely up or down.

[0024] In particular, wires 111 can be used to connect the container 110 with the lower handle 102. The front side wires 111a can extend vertically from the front edge of the top of the container 110 in order to make it easy to wrap a spring which keeps a gate 107 open (the details of the gate 107 and the spring are described below). In some embodiments, the back side wires 111b can extend (e.g., approximately one or more inches) from the top of the container 110 and also extend (e.g., approximately one or more inches) from the back of the container in order to avoid interfering with the bag 201 (see FIGURE 2). Because the back half of the container up to the clips is unobstructed when the bag is placed onto the back and slid up to be clipped in on the sides and top, if the back side wires 111b are secured in this way, the back side wires are not in the way when a user puts the bag on.

[0025] In another embodiment of the instant invention, the scooper 199 also comprises a rake 106 coupled to the bottom of the container 110. The rake 106 can comprise a plurality of teeth 170 coupled to the bottom of the container 110 as an extension or attachment of the bottom side (e.g., by welding or rivets). The rake 106 can be made from a single sheet of metal such as steel (manufacturer, product name), which flexes some, but is still strong enough to stay in place and not get bent. The rake 106 can be coupled to the top surface of the floor of the container 110 by welding or rivets. In some embodiments, it should be understood that an end of space between two teeth 170 next to each other can be configured as a point. That way, when someone uses the rake on the grass and the grass passes through the teeth, with the ends coming to points the rake can cut through the grass, as well as let the grass pass by. Pointed junctions might also improve scooping function. In other embodiments, another shape can be used at the end of the space between two teeth 170 next to each other (e.g., a squared end or a curved end). The teeth 170 can have rounded front edges. The teeth 170 can be flat metal, round metal, or any combination thereof. The rake 106 can comprise 9 tol 1 teeth 170 in some embodiments, although those skilled in the art will see that other numbers of teeth may be used in other embodiments.

[0026] It needs to be noted that the points of the plurality of teeth 170 can be on a straight line, as illustrated in FIGURE 7. This embodiment can be helpful when the rake 106 is parallel to a ground surface where waste is laying.

[0027] In further embodiments of the instant invention, the points of the plurality of teeth 170 can be in a concave curve towards the center of the rake 106 as illustrated in FIGURE 8. The concave curvature of the teeth 170 of the rake 106 helps solid waste roll into the center region of the rake 106 as it is collected. In some embodiments, the curvature of the teeth 170 range from approximately 0" to 1/2", when the overall approximate dimensions of the rake 106 is 4 4/5" (width) x 3 2/5" (depth), for example, so that the curvature of the teeth 170 does not have a large effect on the height of the inside teeth 170 to where the rake 106 does not sit flat on the ground when attempting to pick up waste.

[0028] In addition, the side arms 108 can be elongated from each side of the container 110 toward the rake 106 in order to help to stop the collected waste from rolling out of the rake 106.

[0029] In further embodiments of the present invention, the wires 111 from handle along the front side extend down and then curve out and down along the rake tooth 170, and configure side arms 108 (e.g., as shown in FIGURE 1) on each side of container 110. This can add strength to the overall design, and bending one piece of wire can be more efficient. The side arms 108 may not reach to the rake tooth 170 below them. The length of side arms 108 along the rake tooth 170 can be about 2/3 of the length of the rake tooth 170. The distance between the bottom end of the side arms 108 and the rake 106 can be approximately a half inch in some embodiments.

[0030] In a particular embodiment of the instant invention, the extended part of wire from the handle 102 in back side 112 can extend down to add strength to weld or whatever connection is made.

[0031] In a particular embodiment of the instant invention, the scooper 199 also comprises a gate 107 coupled to the front of the container 110. The gate 107 can lift up to open the opening of the container 110, or can remain closed to close the opening of the container 110. [0032] In further specific embodiments, when the gate 107 is opened, as described in FIGURE 2, a bag 201 can be attached to the back side of the container 110. The bag can have approximate dimensions that allow the bag 201 to be placed over the four sides of the container 110, not too snugly or too loosely (e.g., when the approximate dimensions of the container is 3 1/8" (height) x 5 5/8" (width), the approximate dimensions of the bag can be 18" (perimeter) x 14" (depth)). The user can collect the waste 202 by sweeping under the waste 202 to catch the waste 202 in the rake 106, and then the user can tilt the scooper 199 up so that the waste 202 can drop into the bag 201 attached to the back side of the container 110. In this way, the user may not need to handle the waste 202 (either directly or indirectly), or may not need to stoop down to the ground to pick the waste 202 up. Hence, the user may never need to touch the waste 202.

[0033] In additional embodiments, when the gate 107 is down (e.g., when a bag is not being used), as described in FIGURE 3, the scooper 199 can function as a rake 106 to pick up waste 302.

[0034] In other embodiments, the gate 107 can have a holding mechanism, which can keep the gate open in a default position. As those of ordinary skill in the art will see, there can be innumerable ways to accomplish this holding that are frequently used that are common usage. In one embodiment, the holding mechanism can comprise at least one spring, which connects the top of the gate 107 with the lower handle 102 or the wires 111 so that it can hold the gate 107 in place when open. The spring can be placed inside of the hole of an upper bar of the gate 107. The spring can be placed on a side end or a middle of the upper bar of the gate 107.

[0035] In another embodiment, it should be understood that the holding mechanism can comprise a bent wire latch comprising a tube that has a solid wire going through, which is squeezed down on the back end so that the wire 1203 does not come pass through the tube. The wire can be bent down 90 degrees on the other end so that it can hold the gate 107 in place when open. Since this can be gravity fed and anticipated as a tight fitting (tube & wire), the user simply rotates the wire so that it either holds the gate 107 up or allows it to go down. The bent wire latch can be welded to the lower handle 102 or the wire 111 just above the gate 107 so that the bent wire latch is just above the highest extension of the gate 107 when open.

[0036] Specifically, if the user wishes to close the gate because they do not have bags for the back side of the container 110, then a handle on each side can be used to rotate the gate 107 to the closed position and then it could be attached by a latch mechanism. As those of ordinary skill in the art will see, there can be innumerable ways to accomplish this rotation and latching that are frequently used that are common usage. In one embodiment, the latch mechanism comprises a ridge attached to the outside of the container 110, and a hook connected to a lower bar of the gate 107. In this embodiment, a hook can prevent the gate 107 from rotating into the inside of the container 110. In this embodiment, the bottom part of the side arms 108 can be curved toward outside in order to prevent the interference between the side arms 108 and the hook. [0037] In another embodiment, a latch mechanism comprises a bent wire latch attached to the side of the container 110, and an extended portion of the lower bar of the gate 107. An extended portion of the lower bar of the gate 107 can have length to contact the sides of the container 110 in order to prevent the gate 107 from rotating into the inside of the container 110. In this embodiment, the bottom part of the side arms 108 can be curved toward outside in order to prevent the interference between the side arms 108 and the extended portion. In another embodiment, at least one spring which connects the top of the gate 107 with the lower handle 102 or the wires 111 can be used to keep the gate 107 close. In this embodiment, the spring can also prevent the gate 107 from rotating into the inside of the container 110.

[0038] The gate can comprise an upper bar as a shaft which enable the gate 107 rotating up and down. The upper bar can be connected to the two extended pieces 602 of the container 110.

[0039] The scooper 199 can also comprise a connecting element 109 attached to the top, the right side, and the left side of the container 110. The connecting element 109 can be configured to hold an open bag 201 placed on the back side of the container 110. The connecting element 109 can be configured as a clip. In some embodiments, there can be approximately a half to one inch distance between the back end of the connecting element 109 and the back end of the container 110 in order to hold the bag 201 more tightly. The connecting element 109 placed on the side of the container 110 can be attached on the place closer to the bottom.

[0040] The user can easily remove the bag 201 from the back side of the container 110 without having to indirectly touch the waste 202 through the bag 201. The bag 201 can be tied and the process completed. If the user has more than one animal and/or the amount of waste is small enough, the process could be repeated more than once until the bag 201 is filled, which can be an added economy of use that may not be easily achieved when the bags are used by hand alone to pick up waste.

[0041] In further specific embodiments, the scooper 199 can be a one size fit all

(e.g., for all animals). In other embodiments, it can be useful to have two sizes, one for small animals and one for large animals. In these embodiments, the length of the handle can differ, but the collection part of the scooper 199, including the container 110 and the connecting element 109 can still be similar for attaching the bags, gloves, etc. to the back side of the container 110.

[0042] In the various specific embodiments of the instant invention, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope. In fact, after reading the above description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement various alternative embodiments. For example, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. [0043] In addition, it should be understood that any figures which highlight the functionality and advantages are presented for example purposes only. The disclosed methodology and system are each sufficiently flexible and configurable such that they may be utilized in ways other than that shown.

[0044] Although the term "at least one" may often be used in the specification, claims and drawings, the terms "a", "an", "the", "said", etc. also signify "at least one" or "the at least one" in the specification, claims and drawings.

[0045] Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that include the express language "means for" or "step for" be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). Claims that do not expressly include the phrase "means for" or "step for" are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).