GB2320895A

GB2320895A - A dog walking stick

Info

Publication number: GB2320895A
Application number: GB9800045A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Kingshott Loveridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-04
Filing date: 1998-01-02
Publication date: 1998-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-02
Also published as: GB9800045D0; GB2320895B; GB9700103D0

Abstract

A dog walking stick 1 comprising a shaft 2, a dog lead 3 on the shaft, a pair of jaws 6a, 6b for collecting excreta from a dog before the excreta has fouled the ground, and a mechanism 5, 8, 9 for opening and closing the jaws to contain the excrera.

Description

A DOG WALKING STICK This invention relates to a dog walking stick and, more especially, to a dog walking stick which helps collect dog excreta.

Many dog owners go for a walk with an extendible dog lead and an excreta-collecting device, usually in the form of a scoop. When the dog has fouled an area, the owner is required to stoop down and collect the mess and then dispose of it in a bag in a litter bin.

The present invention seeks to provide a dog walking stick as a single item which serves not only as a dog lead, but also as an excreta collector which is able to collect excreta from the dog before it fouls the ground.

According to the present invention there is provided a dog walking stick comprising: a) a shaft, b) a dog lead on the shaft, c) a pair of jaws for collecting excreta from a dog before the excreta has fouled the ground, and d) a mechanism for opening and closing the jaws to contain the excreta.

Preferably the dog lead is positioned at one end of the shaft. Also preferably, the dog lead is extendible. The extendible dog lead may be mounted on a spring--loaded drum.

In one embodiment, the opening and closing mechanism is a collar which slides on the shaft, one jaw being a fixed jaw which is fixed on the collar, and the ocher jaw being a hinged jaw which is hinged by a hinge to the fixed jaw.

Preferably the hinged jaw has a radius of teeth adjacent the hinge which engages with a row of teeth on the end of the shaft, whereby sliding of the collar on the shaft opens and closes the jaws.

Preferably the jaws support a liner, which liner is for containing the excreta when the jaws are closed.

Preferably the liner forms a bag when the jaws are closed.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of the stick with the jaws closed; and Figure 2 shows a side view of the stick with the jaws open.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a dog walking stick 1 having a shaft 2. An extendible dog lead 3 having a casing 3a is mounted on one end of the shaft, with a lead tail 3b extending therefrom.

The dog lead 3 is of the type known in the art in which a long lead is wound on a spring loaded drum mounted in the casing. The casing 3a may have a handle 4 thereon.

Mounted on the shaft 2 is a collar 5 slideable on the shaft 2. The collar 5 supports a pair of jaws 6a, 6b pivoted together by a hinge 7. Jaw 6a is fixed on the collar 5. Jaws 6a, 6b are generally triangular in shape. Jaw 6b has a radius of teeth 8 formed at its end adjacent the hinge 7 which engages with a line of teeth 9 on the end of shaft 2. If the collar 5 is pushed to slide towards the end of shaft 2 remote from the handle 4, then the jaws open such that jaw 6b moves away from jaw 6a. If the collar 5 is pulled to slide towards the handle 4, then the jaws close such that jaw 6b moves to cover jaw 6a.

A hand grip 10 is formed on the collar 5 and a hand grip 11 is formed on the shaft 2, whereby the stick can be held with each hand on a hand grip to facilitate sliding of the collar 5 on the shaft 2.

It will be seen that the collar 5 and the teeth 8 and 9 together form a mechanism for opening and closing the jaws 6a, 6b.

In use a liner 12, such as a plastics sheet, is placed in the jaws 6a, 6b. When a dog stops to pass excreta, the jaws 6a, 6b are opened and appropriately positioned under the dog by the dog walker. The excreta is then caught by the jaws 6a, 6b. The jaws 6a, 6h can then be closed, with the excreta being held in the jaws 6a, 6b but contained in the folded liner 12. When passing a suitable disposal bin or other container, the jaws 6a, 6b can be opened to place the liner 12 and the excreta in the bin.

If desired the liner 12, when folded by the jaws 6a, 6b could form a bag to allow the dog walker to remove the liner 12 and the excreta from the jaws 6a, 6b. For example, a handle of the bag could loop over the pointed end of the jaws 6a, 6b. The liner 12 may also be impregnated with disinfectant.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the drawings has been given by way of example only, and further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, the dog walking stick of the invention may take different forms to that shown. The opening and closing method could be different to that shown. The dog walking stick could be formed of any known materials such as plastics or metal or combinations thereof. The lower jaw 6b may be formed with a flat front end so that the jaw 6b can then act in the nature of a shovel for shovelling up any of the dog excreta that might not have been collected by the jaws 6a, 6b.

Claims

1. A dog walking stick comprising: a) a shaft, b) a dog lead on the shaft, c) a pair of jaws for collecting excreta from a dog before the excreta has fouled the ground, and d) a mechanism for opening and closing the jaws to contain the excreta.

2. A dog walking stick according to claim 1 in which the dog lead is positioned at one end of the shaft.

3. A dog walking stick according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the dog lead is extendible.

4. A dog walking stick according to claim 3 in which the extendible dog lead is mounted on a spring-loaded drum.

5. A dog walking stick according to any one of the preceding claims in which the opening and closing mechanism is a collar which slides on the shaft, one jaw being a fixed jaw which is fixed on the collar, and the other jaw being a hinged jaw which is hinged by a hinge to the fixed jaw.

6. A dog walking stick according to claim 5 in which the hinged jaw has a radius of teeth adjacent the hinge which engages with a row of teeth on the end of the shaft, whereby sliding of the collar on the shaft opens and closes the jaws.

7. A dog walking stick according to any one of the preceding claims in which the jaws support a liner, which liner is for containing the excreta when the jaws are closed.

8. A dog walking stick according to claim 7 in which the liner forms a bag when the jaws are closed.

9. A dog walking stick substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.