GB2361615A

GB2361615A - Arrangements for collecting dog excrement

Info

Publication number: GB2361615A
Application number: GB0006199A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Norman Birket; Derek Emms
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-16
Filing date: 2000-03-16
Publication date: 2001-10-31
Also published as: GB0006199D0

Abstract

A container 20 is either secured to a dog lead 10 (Figure 1) or forms an integral part of it (Figure 4). The container has a top opening covered with a lid 22, 38 through which bags may be placed in the container and a side opening 26,39 through which they may be removed one at a time. The lead may be an extendable lead, which will retract into the handle under the control of button 14, or may be a simple handle with the lead attached about bolt 36. The bags may comprise a cartridge of bags to be placed within the container. Preferred means of securing the container to the lead include tags (16) and holes (24), adhesive or adhesive pads. In use the container acts as a convenient store of 'pooper scooper' bags.

Description

2361615 ARRANGEMENTS FOR COLLECTING DOG EXCREMENT The present invention

relates to arrangements to facilitate the cleaning up of excrement deposited by dogs when being walked.

Commonly, responsible dog owners will, when walking their dogs, carry a disposable bag with them in which to collect and seal any excrement deposited by their dog. Generally, however, dog owners will take only one bag with them, so that should their dog foul more than once during the walk, then the subsequent deposits are invariably left on the ground.

Most dog owners use plastic carrier bags, for example those generally available in supermarkets, which are too large for the purpose of collecting deposits of dog excrement, are bulky to carry and take up excessive space in the bins provided is by local authorities for the collection of dog waste.

I have now devised arrangements which overcome the above problems.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dog lead device which comprises a compartment, or has a container secured or securable to it, the compartment or container serving to hold a number of bags for the collection of deposits of dog excrement. Preferably the compartment or container is arranged to permit successive bags to be withdrawn one-at-a-time. 25 The dog lead device may comprise a body formed with a handle at a rear end and, at its forward end, with a point of attachment for a dog lead, the body being formed with the abovementioned compartment for receiving a number of bags. Preferably a slot is formed in a side wall of the body of the device, to permit successive bags to be withdrawn oneby-one for use.

2 Preferably the top of the body is formed with an opening (which is preferably provided with a lid) for the insertion of the bags.

In an alternative embodiment, the dog lead device may comprise a body part, e.g. an extendable lead, and the abovementioned compartment is secured to one side of the body part of the device. Preferably the compartment is formed, in one side wall, with a slot to permit successive bags to be withdrawn one-by-one. Preferably the top of the compartment is formed with an opening (which is preferably provided with a lid) for the insertion of the bags.

Preferably the compartment is secured to the side of the dog lead device by means of ties, preferably cable ties. Preferably the side wall of the compartment, which is to seat is against the side of the dog lead device, is formed with a number of holes through which the ties may be threaded. Instead, the container may be secured to the dog lead device by means of adhesive or adhesive pads.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a container for securing to one side of a dog lead device, the container having an opening for the insertion of a number of bags, an opening for permitting said bags to be withdrawn oneby-one, and means for securing the container to one side of the dog lead device.

Preferably the bags are supplied as a pack, e.g. ten in number, preferably arranged so that as one bag is withdrawn through the slot or other opening in the compartment or container, then the leading end of the next bag is drawn into an accessible position.

Preferably a cassette is provided, which in use contains the pack of bags and is arranged to be inserted into the compartment of or container for the dog lead device.

Preferably the cassette is formed with a slot or other opening in a side wall, for aligning with the slot or other opening in 3 the side wall of the compartment of a container for the dog lead device.

It will be appreciated that, in use of the present invention, dog owners are able to clear up a number of deposits on each walk, if required. Further, the bags are easily and quickly accessible and may be of a suitably small size, not too bulky to carry and not taking up excessive space in the waste collection bins.

Embodiments of the present invention will now he described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a dog lead device having a container for disposable bags fixed to it; FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the container for disposable bags, shown from its rear; FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the container for disposable bags, shown from its front; FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a dog lead device which includes a compartment for disposable bags; and FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of a cassette of disposable bags for inserting into the container of the device of Figures 1 to 3 or the compartment of the device of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a dog lead device of extendable-lead type. The device comprises a body 10 which houses a reel around which a dog lead is wound, the lead extending from the forward end of the body 10 and the body 10 being formed with a handle 12 at its rearward end. In conventional manner, the reel is provided With a recoil mechanism and an actuator 14 is provided above the handle 14.

In accordance with the present invention, a container 20 for disposable bags is attached securely to one side of the body 10 of the device. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the 4 container 20 is generally flat and rectangular in shape and provided with a pivoted lid 22 for an opening in its top edge. The rear wall of the container 20 is formed with a number of holes 24 to permit the container to be secured to the body 10 of the dog lead device using cable ties e.g. 16 inserted through them and tied and tightened around the body 10. Different combinations of the holes 24 may be selected from different dog lead devices, appropriate to ensure that the compartment 20 seats in a central position on the side of the body 10 of the dog lead device. As shown in Figure 1, one cable tie may extend over the top and bottom of the body 10 and down its other side, and a second cable tie may extend around the front and rear of the body 10 (through the handle 12) and across its other side.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the front wall of the compartment 20 is formed with a slot 26, extending from side to-side of the compartment 20 intermediate its top and bottom edges, through which successive disposable bags may be withdrawn.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, there is shown a dog lead device which comprises a body 30 moulded from plastics material and formed with a handle 32 at its rear end and provided, at its forward end, with a spring clip 34 to which a fixed-length lead may be attached: the spring clip 34 is pivotally mounted to the body 30 by means of a roll pin 36. The body 30 is formed with an interior compartment which is accessible through an opening in the top edge of the body 30, which is provided with a pivoted lid 38. One side of the body 30 is formed with a horizontal slot 39, through which successive disposable bags may be withdrawn.

Figure 5 shows a generally flat, rectangular cassette 40 having an open top edge provided with a hinged closure 42. The cassette 40 receives a pack of disposable bags 44 and its front wall is formed with a horizontal slot 46. The cassette may be inserted into the container 20 shown in Figures 1 to 3 or into the interior compartment of the body 30 of the device shown in Figure 4, and is arranged so that its slot 46 will coincide with the slot 26 (Figures 1 and 3) or the slot 39 (Figure 4) Typically the cassette 40 may hold the disposable bags which are packed so that, as each bag is withdrawn from the cassette through its slot 46 and the slot 26 or 39 of the compartment into which it is inserted, then the leading edge of the next bag B is presented ready to be grasped for 10 withdrawing that bag.

6

Claims

1) A dog lead device which comprises a compartment, or has a container secured or securable to it, the compartment or container serving to hold a number of bags for the collection of deposits of dog excrement. 2) A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said compartment or container is arranged to permit successive said bags to be withdrawn one-at-a-time. 3) A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a body 10 formed with a handle at a rear end thereof and, at a forward end thereof, with a point of attachment for a dog lead, said body being formed with said compartment. 4) A device as claimed in claim 3, in which a slot is formed in a side wall of said body, to permit 15 withdrawal of said bags.

A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the top of said body is formed with an opening for the insertion of said bags.

6) A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a body 20 part having said container secured to one side thereof. 7) A device as claimed in claim 6, in which said container is formed, in a side wall thereof, with a slot to permit the withdrawal of said bags. 8) A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which said 25 container is secured to said side wall of said body part by means of a number of ties.

7 9) A device as claimed in claim 8, in which a side wall of said container, which is to seat against said side wall of said body part, is formed with a number of holes through which said ties are threaded.

10) A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which said container is secured to said body part by means of adhesive or adhesive pads.

11) A container for securing to one side of a dog lead device, the container having an opening for the insertion of a number of bags, an opening permitting said bags to be withdrawn one-by-one, and means for securing the container to one side of said dog lead device.

12) A dog lead device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 or a container as claimed in claim 11, in combination with a cassette containing a pack of said bags and arranged to be inserted into said compartment or container.

13) A dog lead device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14) A container for a dog lead device, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 or the accompanying drawings.