US-12618211-B2 - Apparatus for collection and removal of animal waste

Abstract

An apparatus for collection and removal of animal waste is disclosed. The collection apparatus may have a plurality of panels connected with one another by a plurality of hinges. The plurality of panels of the collection apparatus may be manipulated by a user to move the collection apparatus from a collapsed position to an expanded position. In the expanded position, a bag may line the interior of the plurality of panels to collect the animal waste. A user can then manipulate the animal waste into the bag lining the collection apparatus. The bag containing the animal waste may then be secured to the collection apparatus by way of panel clip for later disposal.

Inventors

• Gary M. Tatangelo

Assignees

• TANJMAN INNOVATIONS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20220118

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A collection apparatus for animal waste comprising: a plurality of panels, each of the plurality of panels being a tapered shape wherein a base of each panel is a greater width than an apex of each panel; a plurality of hinges connecting a panel of the plurality of panels to an adjacent panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of hinges allowing for movement of the plurality of panels in respect to one another by way of their connection to the plurality of hinges; a first opening located at a top of the collection apparatus, the first opening defined by an apex width of each apex of each panel of the plurality of panels; a second opening located at a bottom of the collection apparatus, the second opening defined by a base width of each base of each panel of the plurality of panels; a first position of the collection apparatus being an expanded position wherein the plurality of panels and the plurality of hinges are spaced apart from one another to create the first opening and the second opening of the collection apparatus; and a second position of the collection apparatus, the second position being a collapsed position wherein the first opening and the second opening of the collection apparatus are not present in the collapsed position; wherein the plurality of hinges includes a first hinge and a second hinge; wherein when the collection apparatus is in the first position, the first hinge is opposite the second hinge in the expanded position; and wherein when the collection apparatus is in the second position, the first hinge is approximate and envelops the second hinge in the collapsed position.
2. 2 . The collection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first hinge and the second hinge attach to an exterior area of their adjacent panels of the plurality of panels.
3. 3 . The collection apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a third hinge and a fourth hinge, the third hinge and the fourth hinge attach to an interior area of their adjacent panels of the plurality of panels.
4. 4 . The collection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a panel clip secured to at least one of the plurality of panels.
5. 5 . The collection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an apex opening, the apex opening located on at least one of the plurality of panels approximate the apex of the respective panel.
6. 6 . The collection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of panel openings, the plurality of panel openings being located on each of the plurality of panels approximate the base of each respective panel.
7. 7 . The collection apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of panel openings are located in a middle of the base width, and wherein when the collection apparatus is in the second position, the plurality of panel openings align with one another to create a common through space.
8. 8 . The collection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel connectable to one another via the plurality of hinges.
9. 9 . The collection apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first panel, second panel, third panel, or fourth panel contains a design in a middle of the panel, the design protruding out from an exterior area of the respective panel to provide a gripping surface for a user of the collection apparatus.
10. 10 . A kit for collecting and storing animal waste, the kit comprising: a clip; a scraper; and a collection apparatus, the collection apparatus comprising; a plurality of panels, each of the plurality of panels being a tapered shape wherein a base of each panel is a greater width than an apex of each panel; a plurality of hinges connecting a panel of the plurality of panels to an adjacent panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of hinges allowing for movement of the plurality of panels in respect to one another by way of their connection to the plurality of hinges; a first opening located at a top of the collection apparatus, the first opening defined by an apex width of each apex of each panel of the plurality of panels; a second opening located at a bottom of the collection apparatus, the second opening defined by a base width of each base of each panel of the plurality of panels; a first position of the collection apparatus being an expanded position wherein the plurality of panels and the plurality of hinges are spaced apart from one another to create the first opening and the second opening of the collection apparatus; and a second position of the collection apparatus, the second position being a collapsed position wherein the first opening and the second opening of the collection apparatus are not present in the collapsed position; and a panel clip secured to at least one of the plurality of panels of the collection apparatus operable to secure the scraper.
11. 11 . The kit for collecting and storing animal waste of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of hinges of the collection apparatus includes a first hinge and a second hinge; wherein when the collection apparatus is in the first position, the first hinge is opposite the second hinge in the expanded position; and wherein when the collection apparatus is in the second position, the first hinge is approximate and envelops the second hinge in the collapsed position.
12. 12 . The kit for collecting and storing animal waste of claim 10 , further comprising an apex opening of the collection apparatus, the apex opening located on at least one of the plurality of panels approximate the apex of the respective panel.
13. 13 . The kit for collecting and storing animal waste of claim 12 , wherein the clip travels through the apex opening and is connectable to the collection apparatus via the apex opening when the collection apparatus is in the first position.
14. 14 . The kit for collecting and storing animal waste of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of panel openings on the collection apparatus, the plurality of panel openings located on each of the plurality of panels approximate the base of each respective panel on the collection apparatus.
15. 15 . The kit for collecting and storing animal waste of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of panel openings on the collection apparatus are located in a middle of the base width, and wherein when the collection apparatus is in the second position, the plurality of panel openings align with one another to create a common through space.
16. 16 . The kit for collecting and storing animal waste of claim 15 , wherein the clip travels through the common through space created by the alignment of the plurality of panel openings and is connectable to the collection apparatus via the aligned plurality of panel openings when the collection apparatus is in the second position.
17. 17 . A method of collecting and securing animal waste by a user, the method comprising: providing a collection apparatus with a plurality of panels, each of the plurality of panels being a tapered shape wherein a base of each panel is a greater width than an apex of each panel, the collection apparatus having a plurality of hinges connecting a panel of the plurality of panels to an adjacent panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of hinges allowing for movement of the plurality of panels in respect to one another by way of their connection to the plurality of hinges, a first opening of the collection apparatus defined by a apex width of each apex of each panel of the plurality of panels and a second opening defined by a base width of each base of each panel of the plurality of panels, and a first position of the collection apparatus being an expanded position wherein the plurality of panels and the plurality of hinges are spaced apart from one another to create the first opening and the second opening of the collection apparatus, and a second position of the collection apparatus being a collapsed position wherein the first opening and the second opening of the collection apparatus are not present in the collapsed position; moving the collection apparatus from the second position to the first position and gripping the collection apparatus by the user in the first position; placing a container into an interior void space of the collection apparatus through the second opening of the collection apparatus in the first position, wherein the container fills the interior void space from the second opening to the first opening of the collection apparatus; placing the collection apparatus with the container on a ground surface near an animal waste; manipulating via a scraper the animal waste into the container contained within the interior void space of the collection apparatus; removing the container from the interior void space of the collection apparatus; securing a top portion of the container to maintain confinement of the animal waste within the container; navigating the top portion of the container through each the second opening and the first opening of the collection apparatus; and securing the top portion of the container to the collection apparatus via a panel clip located on at least one panel of the plurality of panels of the collection apparatus.
18. 18 . The method of collecting and securing animal waste of claim 17 , further comprising attaching the collection apparatus securely containing the container with the animal waste to a leash by way of a clip, the clip traveling through and attaching to both the leash and the collection apparatus by either an apex opening of the collection apparatus located near the first opening of the collection apparatus or through one of a plurality of panel openings located near the second opening of the collection apparatus.

Description

INTRODUCTION Pet ownership is an important part of the physical and emotional wellbeing for a large part of the world's population. Pets provide a large amount of love and companionship for their owners. Many individuals own pets for a variety of reasons. Be it the need to have a loyal companion at a lonely time, or to help with chores needed for their professional career, pet ownership has multiple different advantages and roles to play for the specific owners. Regardless, many pets become part of the owner's family unit and are treated and cared for as such. With pet ownership comes the requirement to be a responsible pet owner. As many pets live in the owner's home unit, they require all care to be taken on by the owner. As such, food must be provided by owners, regular veterinary visits as required, and regular grooming help keep the pet and the bond between the pet and the owner healthy and happy. Pets come in a large variety of animals. Some might enjoy the simplicity of a fish tank display while others like the more exotic route of reptiles. Some even go so far as keeping undomesticated animals as their pets. However, the vast majority of pets throughout the world are cats and dogs. Such cat and dog owners would do anything for their pets and their pets would likewise do the same for them. While some of these cats and dogs may make their homes outdoors on an owner's property, many of these pets will live indoors. As such, food and other requirements of ownership must occur within an enclosed space. Of course, as with any type of animal, consumption of food leads to the production of waste. Such waste must be evacuated from the body to promote a healthy lifestyle. Given that many of these pets live indoors, expelling animal waste within the indoor environment is not ideal for both the pet and the owner. Cats are creatures of habit and can be trained to use a litter box indoors for their waste disposal. Dogs, however, and some of the more exotic pets, must be taken outdoors to relieve themselves and to expel the waste. Not all dog owners keep their canine companions outdoors. Others also do not have private property where a dog can relieve itself without possible consequences. Many of these dog owners live in cities or large urban areas where their dogs are forced to walk and relieve themselves on public property. Many, if not all, cities and municipalities require dog owners to pick up, remove, and dispose of the waste created by their animals. Refusal to do so can result in fines, or in rare cases possible imprisonment. As such, pet owners subject to these conditions are forced to carry upon themselves bags or other types of containers to pick up and then dispose of the waste created by their pets. All pet owners who wish to take their animals for walks in public parks or public trails are also subject to these type of law requirements to clean up after their pets. Overall, it is generally frowned upon in the pet ownership community to leave the waste of pets on public or private property that is not owned by the owner of the pet. Thus, a vast majority of pet owners carry plastic bags to scoop up and remove such animal waste. While the use of disposal bags of the plastic variety is quite common to pick up and handle pet waste, their use also comes with a large number of drawbacks. Many bags and containers on the marketplace are disposable, convenient, and designed for large market production. Thus, the hygienic nature of such containers is not verified or tested to rigorous medical standards. The containers used to collect animal waste are made for efficiency and not safety. The containers do contain the waste, but the material may be porous at a microscopic level and possible harmful organisms may transfer from the waste to the owner during collecting and storing the waste within the container. Additionally, almost all of the containers on the marketplace do not contain airtight seals to confine the odor emitted from the waste. Owners collecting such waste are constantly bombarded with the smell during collection and securing of the waste within the container. By far the biggest drawback for pet owners collecting the waste of their pets is storage. As waste collection is usually required in public areas, on walks, or within park and hiking trails, the presence of a nearby garbage can or disposal bin is rarely nearby. Thus, owners are forced to use porous containers to collect the waste and carry it with them for long periods of time. Whether the animal waste inside the container is carried by hand, within a pocket, or stored in a bag or transport vehicle like a stroller, it is not ideal for the pet owner to continually have to handle and contact the animal waste for the majority of outings. All pet owners will realize the necessity of this, yet it is an uncomfortable and unenjoyable experience for the owner to endure. As such, the inventor proposes the following disclosure to assist pet owners in th