COLLAPSIBLE DROPPINGS COLLECTOR
A collapsible system is provided for grasping and bagging an item on the ground, where the system includes an elongate cane having a proximal end that can be held by the user and a distal end, the system includes a set of claspers secured to a distal end of the elongate cane such that the claspers can be manipulated by the user, where the set of claspers includes first and second grasping arms each having a support hook configured to secure a portion of a bag between the set of claspers, and where the system also includes a control mechanism configured to permit the user to operate from the proximal end of the cane the set of claspers positioned to the distal end of the cane.
The embodiments herein relate generally to a system for facilitating the collection and disposal of animal droppings. Mechanisms exist that the permit a user to use a long handled set of claspers to grasp items on the ground. And mechanisms exist for securing human waste in disposal systems (e.g., Diaper Genie®). Nonetheless, no one has yet to tailor a system to collect animal waste in a manner that eliminates the need for the animal owner to bend over with an inverted plastic bag in hand to pick up the droppings from multiple animals over a period of time using separate discrete bags that then must be carried in hand for the balance of the walk. Embodiments of the present invention address at least this long-felt need.
The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.
By way of example, and referring to
Preferably, the housing 16, and thus claspers 14a, 14b, are pivotally secured to the cane 12 by way of a hinge 22. In this manner, the claspers 14a, 14b and housing 16 may be placed into a collapsed position, as shown in
In certain embodiments, it is preferable that the cane 12 comprise a hollow tube of metal, wood, synthetic material or any other material that is sufficiently rigid to permit effective functionality described for the embodiments herein. By being tubular in structure, i.e., hollow, a cable 26 maybe provided that extends substantially the length of the cane 12 from close to the proximal end to close to the distal end, as explained in more detail below. The cable 26 serves to permit operation of the system 10 in at least two ways: the first is to collapse or extend the claspers 14 and housing 16 and the second is to open or close the claspers 14.
It should be noted that at the distal end of each clasp 14a, 14b is a support hook 28a, 28b, respectively. Such hooks are preferably configured to permit securing of a bag system that can be used with the system embodiments herein. In that regard, reference is made to
Referring first to
Referring to
Referring to
One of the contemplated features of embodiments of the present invention is total collapsibility of the systems 10 and 110, by example, in which not only does the housing and claspers collapse, but the cane collapses as well. For example, the cane 12 of system 10 is shown in
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.
Claims
1. A collapsible system for grasping and bagging an item on the floor, the system configured to minimize a user's need to bend over to pick up the item, the collapsible system comprising:
- an elongate cane having a proximal end that can be held by the user and a distal end;
- a set of claspers secured to a distal end of the elongate cane such that the claspers can be manipulated by the user, the set of claspers comprising a first and second grasping arm each comprising a support hook configured to secure a portion of a bag between the set of claspers; and
- a control mechanism configured to permit the user to operate from the proximal end of the cane the set of claspers positioned to the distal end of the cane.
2. The collapsible system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism comprises a pivotable grip secured to the proximal end of the cane, the grip configured so that the user can move the grip as needed to operate the set of claspers between a closed and open position.
3. The collapsible system of claim 2, wherein the set of claspers is hingeably secured to the cane so that the claspers can be moved from a retracted position pointing proximally from a point of securement to the cane to an extended position pointing distally from the point of securement, the point of securement comprising a hinge.
4. The collapsible system of claim 3, wherein the control mechanism is configured to permit the user to both operate the moving of the claspers between a closed and opened position while also moving the claspers between a retracted and an extended position.
5. The collapsible system of claim 1, further comprising a bag configured to be secured to the claspers in at least two positions, a first position associated with the support hook on a first arm of the claspers and a second position associated with the support hook on a second arm of the claspers.
6. The collapsible system of claim 1, wherein the set of claspers is secured to a distal tip of the distal end of the elongate cane.
7. The collapsible system of claim 1, wherein the elongate cane is segmented to permit collapsibility of the cane to reduce the overall length of the cane for ease of transport.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 12, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 16, 2015
Inventor: Michael Richard Pluta (Huntington Beach, CA)
Application Number: 14/205,979