PET WASTE COLLECTION DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

A pet waste collection device for suctioning up pet waste includes a receptacle, which has a pair of ports positioned therein proximate to a top of the receptacle. An adapter is attachable by a first end to one of the ports and by a second end to an intake port of an air mover. The receptacle thus is in fluidic communication with the air mover. A suction tube is selectively attachable by a first terminus to the other port so that the suction tube is in fluidic communication with the receptacle. The suction tube directs a partial pressure produced by the air mover to suction up pet waste from a surface. The pet waste enters a second terminus of the suction tube and is deposited into the receptacle.

Claims

1. A pet waste collection device comprising: a receptacle having a pair of ports positioned therein proximate to a top of the receptacle; an adapter attachable by a first end to one of the ports of the pair of ports and having a second end configured for attachment to an intake port of an air mover, such that the receptacle is in fluidic communication with the air mover; and a suction tube selectively attachable by a first terminus to the other port of the pair of ports, such that the suction tube is in fluidic communication with the receptacle, wherein the suction tube is configured to direct a partial pressure produced by the air mover to suction up pet waste from a surface through a second terminus of the suction tube, such that the pet waste is deposited into the receptacle.

2. The pet waste collection device of claim 1, further including: the top of the receptacle being open; and a lid selectively attachable to the receptacle to close the top, wherein the lid is configured for removal from the receptacle to empty pet waste from the receptacle.

3. The pet waste collection device of claim 2, further including: the receptacle being substantially cylindrical; a first fastener attached to the receptacle; and a second fastener attached to the lid, the second fastener being complementary to the first fastener, such that the second fastener is selectively couplable to the first fastener to removably attach the lid to the receptacle.

4. The pet waste collection device of claim 3, wherein: the second fastener comprises a lock pin attached to and extending radially from an outer circumference of the lid; and the first fastener comprises a pin slot extending into an inner circumference a sidewall of the receptacle from the top, such that the lock pin is insertable into the pin slot and such that, with a twisting motion being imparted to one or both of the lid and the receptacle, the lock pin slides into the pin slot to attach the lid to the receptacle.

5. The pet waste collection device of claim 4, wherein the pin slot comprises: a first segment extending arcuately from the top; and a second segment extending substantially linearly from the first segment and angularly toward a bottom of the receptacle, such that the further the lock pin travels into the pin slot the tighter the lid is attached to the receptacle.

6. The pet waste collection device of claim 2, further including a handle attached to the lid, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in a hand of a user to detach the lid from the receptacle and to attach the lid to the receptacle.

7. The pet waste collection device of claim 1, wherein the ports of the pair of ports are substantially opposingly positioned in the receptacle.

8. The pet waste collection device of claim 1, wherein each port of the pair of ports comprises a connecting tube attached to the receptacle and protruding into and from the receptacle.

9. The pet waste collection device of claim 8, further including: a pair of first couplers attached singly to the adapter, proximate to the first end of the adapter, and to the suction tube, proximate to the first terminus of the suction tube; and a pair of second couplers attached singly to the connecting tubes externally of the receptacle, the second couplers being complementary to the first couplers, such that each second coupler is selectively couplable to a respective first coupler to removably attach the adapter and the suction tube to the connecting tubes.

10. The pet waste collection device of claim 1, wherein: each second coupler comprises a locking pin attached to and extending radially from either the adapter or the suction tube; and each first coupler comprises a grove extending arcuately into an inner perimeter of a respective connecting tube, such that the locking pin is insertable into the grove and such that, with a twisting motion being imparted to the adapter or to the suction tube, the locking pin slides into the grove to attach either the adapter or the suction tube to the respective connecting tube.

11. The pet waste collection device of claim 1, further including a damper attached to the receptacle and positioned over a respective one of the ports of the pair of ports, such that, upon connection of the adapter to the respective one of the ports, the damper decreases a partial pressure in the receptacle that is imparted by the air mover and reduces a probability of the pet waste passing through the adapter to the air mover.

12. The pet waste collection device of claim 11, wherein the damper is substantially cuboid and has opposed sides, the opposed sides being open, such that air passing through the receptacle passes around the damper and into the opposed sides through the adapter to the air mover.

13. The pet waste collection device of claim 1, further including a screen attached to or attachable to a respective connecting tube to which the adapter is to be attached, wherein the screen is configured for excluding particles of the pet waste from passing through the adapter to the air mover.

14. A pet waste collection system comprising: an air mover; a receptacle having a pair of ports positioned therein proximate to a top of the receptacle; an adapter attached by a first end to one of the ports of the pair of ports and attached by a second end to an intake port of the air mover, such that the receptacle is in fluidic communication with the air mover; a suction tube attached by a first terminus to the other port of the pair of ports, such that the suction tube is in fluidic communication with the receptacle; and wherein the suction tube directs a partial pressure produced by the air mover for suctioning up pet waste from a surface, such that the pet waste is deposited into the receptacle.

15. A method of collecting pet waste, the method comprising providing the pet waste collection device of claim 1, and: attaching the adapter to an intake port of an air mover; attaching the adapter to one of the ports of the pair of ports in the receptacle; attaching the suction tube to the other port of the pair of ports, such that the suction tube is in fluidic communication with the receptacle; and positioning the second terminus of the suction tube proximate to pet waste on a surface to suction up the pet waste through the suction tube and into the receptacle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0013] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a pet waste collection device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a front isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a rear isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 8 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram for a method utilizing an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new pet waste disposal device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0024] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the pet waste collection device 10 generally comprises a receptacle 12, which has a top 14 that is open. The receptacle 12 may be substantially cylindrical, as is shown in FIGS. 1-8, or alternatively shaped, such as cuboid, frustrum shaped, or the like. The present invention anticipates receptacles 12 having a variety of volumes. For example, receptacles 12 having volumes of 2.00 gallons, 3.00 gallons and 4.25 gallons might be used depending on a quantity of pet waste 42 that needs to be collected. The receptacle 12 may comprise plastic of sufficient rigidity to be compatible with a partial pressure that is generated by an air mover 44, as is discussed below.

[0025] A lid 16 is selectively attachable to the receptacle 12 to close the top 14. As will become apparent, the lid 16 is configured to be removed from the receptacle 12 to empty pet waste 42 from the receptacle 12. A handle 18 is attached to the lid 16 and is configured to be grasped in a hand of a user to detach the lid 16 from the receptacle 12 and to attach the lid 16 to the receptacle 12. The handle 18 also can be used to support and maneuver the pet waste collection device 10. The present invention also anticipates a bottom 20 of the receptacle 12 being hingedly attached to the receptacle 12 and a quick release connection (not shown) being operable between the bottom 20 and the receptacle 12 to allow for the pet waste 42 to be dropped directly into a trash bin.

[0026] A first fastener 22 and a second fastener 24 are attached to the receptacle 12 and to the lid 16, respectively. The second fastener 24 is complementary to the first fastener 22 and thus is selectively couplable to the first fastener 22 to removably attach the lid 16 to the receptacle 12. With the receptacle 12 being cylindrical, the second fastener 24 may comprise a lock pin 26, which is attached to and which extends radially from an outer circumference 28 of the lid 16. The first fastener 22 may comprise a pin slot 30, which extends into an inner circumference 32 of a sidewall 34 of the receptacle 12 from the top 14. The lock pin 26 is insertable into the pin slot 30 and, with a twisting motion being imparted to one or both of the lid 16 and the receptacle 12, the lock pin 26 slides into the pin slot 30 to attach the lid 16 to the receptacle 12.

[0027] As is shown in FIGS. 3, the pin slot 30 comprises a first segment 36, which extends arcuately from the top 14, and a second segment 38, which extends substantially linearly from the first segment 36 and angularly toward the bottom 20 of the receptacle 12. Thus, the further the lock pin 26 travels into the pin slot 30, the tighter the lid 16 is attached to the receptacle 12. While only one lock pin 26 and only one pin slot 30 are depicted in FIGS. 2-4, the present invention anticipates two or more lock pins 26 and a corresponding number of pin slots 30. The present invention also anticipates the first fastener 22 and the second fastener 24 comprising other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, press fitting, locking rings, twist clamps, or the like. The lid 16 may be internally threaded and the receptacle 12 may be externally threaded adjacent to the top 14.

[0028] A pair of ports 40 is positioned in the receptacle 12 proximate to the top 14 of the receptacle 12. The ports 40 are substantially opposingly positioned in the receptacle 12, thereby reducing potential for the pet waste 42 to pass through the receptacle 12 to the air mover 44. Each port 40 may comprise a connecting tube 46, which is attached to the receptacle 12 and which protrudes both into and from the receptacle 12.

[0029] An adapter 48 is attachable by a first end 50 to one of the ports 40 and has a second end 52 that is configured for attachment to an intake port 54 of the air mover 44. The receptacle 12 thus is in fluidic communication with the air mover 44. Air mover 44, in the context of this specification, should be interpreted to mean handheld blowers, backpack type blowers, handheld debris suctioning devices, backpack type debris suctioning devices, vacuums, such as shop vacs, or the like. The air mover 44 may be gas powered, battery powered, plug-in type, or the like. For backpack type air movers 44, the present invention anticipates the adapter 48 comprising a section of flexible tubing (not shown), which would be positioned between its first end 50 and its second end 52. The present invention anticipates the second end 52 of the adapter 48 being of a wide variety of configurations so as to match the intake ports 40 of a wide variety of air movers 44. For example, as is shown in FIG. 7, the second end 52 may be circular and circumferentially larger than the first end 50, and the adapter 48 may employ a twist locking mechanism to create a seal between adapter 48 and the intake port 54.

[0030] A suction tube 56 is selectively attachable by a first terminus 58 to the other port 40 so that the suction tube 56 is in fluidic communication with the receptacle 12. The present invention anticipates the suction tube 56 comprising a plurality of sections (not shown), which would be selectively couplable to increase an effective length of the suction tube 56. The present invention also anticipates the suction tube 56 comprising a plurality of nested segments (not shown), which would render the suction tube 56 selectively extensible and thus length adjustable. The suction tube 56 may comprise substantially rigid plastic, metal, or the like. The suction tube 56 is configured to direct a partial pressure produced by the air mover 44 to suction up pet waste 42 from a surface. The pet waste 42 enters a second terminus 60 of the suction tube 56 and is deposited into the receptacle 12. The pet waste collection device 10 is anticipated to be beneficial to users who own one or more pets and who are required to remove pet waste 42 from areas where the pets defecate. Many such users already have purchased an air mover 44 for other purposes, and the pet waste collection device 10 allows the user to use an existing air mover 44 to collect pet waste 42.

[0031] As is shown in FIG. 6, each connecting tube 46 is substantially cylindrical. The present invention also anticipates the connecting tube 46 having an internal circumference 62 that is circumferentially larger adjacent to an external end 64 of the connecting tube 46 than proximate to an internal end 66 of the connecting tube 46 so that the internal circumference 62 tapers from the external end 64 to the internal end 66. The adapter 48 and the suction tube 56 would be complementary tapered adjacent to their first end 50 and first terminus 58, respectively, thereby allowing for tight connections between the adapter 48 and one of the connecting tubes 46 and between the suction tube 56 and the other of the connecting tubes 46.

[0032] A pair of first couplers 68 is attached singly to the adapter 48, proximate to the first end 50 of the adapter 48, and to the suction tube 56, proximate to the first terminus 58 of the suction tube 56. A pair of second couplers 70 is attached singly to the connecting tubes 46 externally of the receptacle 12. The second couplers 70 are complementary to the first couplers 68 so that each second coupler 70 is selectively couplable to a respective first coupler 68 to removably attach the adapter 48 and the suction tube 56 to the connecting tubes 46.

[0033] Each second coupler 70 may comprise a locking pin 72, which is attached to and which extends radially from either the adapter 48 or from the suction tube 56. Each first coupler 68 comprises a grove 74, which extends arcuately into an inner perimeter 76 of a respective connecting tube 46. The locking pin 72 is insertable into the grove 74 and, with a twisting motion being imparted to the adapter 48 or to the suction tube 56, the locking pin 72 slides into the grove 74 to attach either the adapter 48 or the suction tube 56 to the respective connecting tube 46. While only one locking pin 72 and only one grove 74 are depicted in FIGS. 2-4, the present invention anticipates two or more locking pins 72 and a corresponding number of grooves 74. The present invention also anticipates the first couplers 68 and the second couplers 70 comprises other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, press fitting, locking rings, twist clamps, or the like.

[0034] Additionally anticipated by the present invention is a plurality of liners (not shown), with each liner being sized complementarily to the receptacle 12 so that it can be inserted thereinto. Each liner would have a pair of holes positioned therein which would allow for insertion of the connecting tubes 46. The liners would enable quick, easy, and sanitary disposal of the pet waste 42. The liners may comprise biodegradable materials, such as paper stock, plastic, or the like. Also anticipated are tension clips attached to the receptacle 12, above the connecting tubes 46, which would clip to the liner to ensure that the liner is held in a proper position.

[0035] The present invention also anticipates a grip (not shown) being attached to the receptacle 12 and being opposingly positioned relative to the suction tube 56. In a situation where the pet waste 42 collection device 10 is attached to a backpack type blower or a backpack type debris suctioning device, the grip would enable the user to manipulate and to properly position the suction tube 56 to collect the pet waste 42.

[0036] A damper 78 is attached to the receptacle 12 and is positioned over a respective one of the ports 40, such that, upon connection of the adapter 48 to the respective one of the ports 40, the damper 78 decreases a partial pressure (increases vacuum) in the receptacle 12 that is imparted by the air mover 44. The damper 78 also reduces a probability of the pet waste 42 passing through the adapter 48 to the air mover 44. The damper 78 may be removably attachable to the receptacle 12, thereby allowing for the damper 78 to be one of a plurality of dampers 78, with each damper 78 being of a different configuration. Dampers 78 of various sizes and shapes will impart different partial pressures to the receptacle 12. As is shown in FIG. 2, the damper 78 is substantially cuboid and has opposed sides 80, which are open. Air passing through the receptacle 12 passes around the damper 78, into the opposed sides 80, and then through the adapter 48 to the air mover 44.

[0037] A screen 82 is attached to or is attachable to a respective connecting tube 46 to which the adapter 48 is to be attached. The screen 82 is configured to exclude particles of the pet waste 42 from passing through the adapter 48 to the air mover 44, thereby protecting the air mover 44 from contamination and potential damage.

[0038] The present invention also anticipates a pet waste collection system 84, which comprises an air mover 44 and a receptacle 12. The receptacle 12 has a pair of ports 40 positioned therein proximate to a top 14 of the receptacle 12. An adapter 48 is attached by a first end 50 to one of the ports 40 and is attached by a second end 52 to an intake port 54 of the air mover 44. The receptacle 12 thus is in fluidic communication with the air mover 44. A suction tube 56 is attached by a first terminus 58 to the other port 40 so that the suction tube 56 is in fluidic communication with the receptacle 12. The suction tube 56 directs a partial pressure produced by the air mover 44 to suction up pet waste 42 from a surface, with the pet waste 42 being deposited into the receptacle 12.

[0039] In use, the pet waste collection device 10 enables a method of collecting pet waste 86, which entails providing a pet waste collection device 10, according to the specification above. A first step 88 of the method 86 is attaching the adapter 48 to an intake port 54 of an air mover 44. A second step 90 of the method 86 is attaching the adapter 48 to one of the ports 40 in the receptacle 12. A third step 92 of the method 86 is attaching the suction tube 56 to the other port 40 so that the suction tube 56 is in fluidic communication with the receptacle 12. A fourth step 94 of the method 86 is positioning the second terminus 60 of the suction tube 56 proximate to pet waste 42 on a surface to suction up the pet waste 42 through the suction tube 56 and into the receptacle 12. It will be apparent that the assembly steps one through three above can be performed in different sequences without affecting the outcome.

[0040] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0041] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.