Abstract: A shovel and bag assembly for scooping animal refuse deposited by a pet animal. The shovel comprises a handle, a spaded loop including a spade with a protruding leading edge, a first and second support arm for the spade, a base, and a first and second extended corner. The spade and the two extended corners are configured to affix and tension the bag in an open configuration. The extended corners may each comprise a shoulder that assists in tensioning and holding the bag. In addition, the support arms may comprise a curved section proximate to the spade, which increase the tension along the underside of the spade and also widen the opening to facilitate pickup of animal refuse. After scooping the animal refuse into the bag, a rear pocket of the bag is inverted over a forward pocket, covering the soiled forward section and sealing the bag for disposal.

Abstract: A shovel and bag assembly for scooping animal refuse deposited by a pet animal. The shovel comprises a handle, a spaded loop including a spade with a protruding leading edge, a first and second support arm for the spade, a base, and a first and second extended corner. The spade and the two extended corners are configured to affix and tension the bag in an open configuration. The extended corners may each comprise a shoulder that assists in tensioning and holding the bag. In addition, the support arms may comprise a curved section proximate to the spade, which increase the tension along the underside of the spade and also widen the opening to facilitate pickup of animal refuse. After scooping the animal refuse into the bag, a rear pocket of the bag is inverted over a forward pocket, covering the soiled forward section and sealing the bag for disposal.

Abstract: The present invention relates in one aspect to a method of manufacture of a security thread suitable for use in security articles including security paper such as that used for banknotes. In the method a magnetic metal is deposited on a film of polymeric substrate as the substrate passes through a solution containing the magnetic metal and a preparatory operation is carried out on a surface of the substrate prior to immersion of the substrate in the solution. The preparatory operation ensures that magnetic metal is deposited on the substrate in a pattern such that when the security thread is produced from the film by cutting the film the magnetic metal on the security thread has a specific pattern and provides both a visually discernible security feature and a magnetically detectable security feature.