Patent Application
20110284544
The present invention relates to a receptacle for organic waste. The invention is particularly concerned with a receptacle for animal waste, in particular a receptacle for containing animal faeces, especially dog faeces collected by the owner of the dog for subsequent disposal.
The problem of animal waste fouling public areas, such as parks, streets and the like, and the associated health risks have received significant attention in recent years. In particular, the issue of the waste left by domestic animals, especially dogs, in public areas is of considerable concern. The level of concern is now such that the owners of dogs are encouraged to collect the faeces of their dogs when in public areas, for later disposal in a safe, hygienic and environmentally friendly manner. As a result, it is now a very common practice for dog owners to carry with them one or more plastic bags for retrieving and storing the faeces until proper disposal can be arranged. However, a particular problem exists with the carrying of the bag of faeces once collected. This has led to an increasing occurrence of the plastic bags containing faeces being disposed of in an improper manner. As a result, while the collecting of dog faeces from public areas may be practiced properly by many people, it is becoming increasingly common to find the plastic bags in which the faeces have been collected being discarded, for example in a hedge or other secluded place, rather than being transported by the dog owner to a site for proper disposal. Accordingly, there is a need for a means of encouraging the proper collection and disposal of organic waste, such as dog faeces.
The art is replete with attempts to design a device or receptacle for the collection and transport of dog faeces. Thus, examples of devices or receptacles for the temporary storage of dog faeces after collection and before disposal are disclosed in JP 2004 222691; JP 2001 078611; U.S. Design Pat. U.S. D488,591 S; U.S. Design Pat. U.S. D442,754 S; U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,462; U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,809; GB 2,357,959 A; GB 2,231,027 A; DE 10 2005 019 773 A; CA 2 412 410; CA 2 350 164; CA 2 323 174; CA 2 114 676; and CA 2 251 497.
GB 2 196 615 discloses a container of generally rigid, moulded plastic having a removable air-tight lid. The container is provided with a removable liner, for example a plastic bag. A carrying strap is also provided. The container is said to be convenient for the temporary storage and removal of dog faeces.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,737 B discloses a sanitary animal waste collection holder. The holder is a bag having a variety of external compartments and central compartment with a fold-over lid. The compartments and the lid are secured using hook and loop fastener systems. One compartment is used to house a container of a hand sanitizing composition.
US 2004/0200438 A discloses a pet waste pick up and carrying bag, having a central compartment with a fold-over lid or flap. Two compartments are provided, one for carrying new plastic bags and a second for holding bags filled with waste.
A dog walking accessory is disclosed in WO 95/04457 and comprises a reusable bag having three compartments, one for fresh plastic bags, one for container used bags with organic waste, and a third compartment for holding a deodorant.
JP 2005 318879 discloses a bag for storing pet dung and small articles. The bag is worn at the waist and is attached to the user by several strings or ties. The bag has a ventilated portion at its lower end of a net-like fabric having a plurality of holes.
US 2006/0231043 discloses a pet waste cleanup kit having a pouch with a first compartment for containing disposable bags held in a container within the first compartment, and a second compartment for containing pet waste held in one of the disposable bags.
US 2004/0189026 discloses a right pet refuse collection and carrying device having a body and lid. The lid is biased to a closed position against the body by a spring.
GB 2,242,822 discloses an appliance for use in removing canine faeces having a casing with an opening, the opening being closable by a rotatable cover. The casing is enclosed by a sleeve that engages with the casing by means of a seal.
A handheld device for collecting waste, in particular pet waste, is described in WO 03/060239 and has a container formed in two halves, biased together by a spring. The container is opened against the bias of the spring to receive the waste.
A collapsible, disposable scoop and housing is disclosed in WO 89/06089.
While many designs of receptacle or container for use by dog owners in the collection and transport of dog faeces have been proposed, few if any have reached the market and been adopted to any significant degree by dog owners. A review of the known devices as discussed above shows that few address several key practical issues relating to the collection and transport of dog faeces. These practical issues include the ease of cleaning and reusing the receptacle or container and the unpleasant odours that accompany the collection and transport of faeces. The present invention addresses key practical issues that remain and provides an improved receptacle for the collection and transport of organic waste, such as dog faeces.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receptacle for organic waste, the receptacle intended for the storage and transport of the said waste once contained within a plastic bag or the like, the receptacle comprising:
a housing for containing the organic waste having an opening therein;
a lid for closing the opening in the housing;
fastening means for securing the lid in a closed position over the opening in the housing, the fastening means allowing the passage of air therethrough; and
a seal assembly disposed to seal the opening in the housing when the lid is in the closed position.
A particular problem with the collection and transport of organic waste, such as dog faeces, is the odour. The means for closing a receptacle for such waste must be simple and easy to use. Typically, such means is a zip fastener, studs, buckles or a hook and loop fastener. Such fastening means have proven to be popular, both from the point of view of ease of manufacture and ease of use. However, such fastener means allow air to pass therethrough, allowing odours from within the receptacle to escape. This in turn makes the task of transporting the collected waste most unpleasant. While it is possible to employ a closure means that is also airtight, thus preventing odours from leaving the receptacle, this is difficult to achieve technically and is very expensive. The receptacle of the present invention allows the use of the known, tried and tested fasteners to secure the receptacle, while still significantly reducing or preventing the escape of odours from within the receptacle. This is achieved through the use of a seal assembly in conjunction with the fastening means, as described hereafter.
The receptacle of the present invention comprises a housing. The housing is preferably flexible. The housing may be of any suitable shape, with a generally cylindrical housing being particularly preferred. The housing may be of any suitable material, preferably one that is easily cleaned, especially a washable material. One particularly preferred range of materials is synthetic rubbers, in particular polymers of chloroprene and like materials, which combine the properties of being flexible and easy to wash and clean. One preferred commercially available material is Neoprene®. An alternative commercially available material is Veltex®. Another range of suitable materials for forming the housing are the polyamides, in particular the nylon range of materials, including nylon 6 and nylon 6,6. Again, suitable polyamide materials are well known in the art and are available commercially.
The housing has an opening therein with a lid provided to close the lid by means of a suitable fastener means. The lid is preferably formed from a similar or the same material as the housing, as described above. The lid is preferably pivotably attached to the housing, for example by a suitable hinge, with a fabric hinge being particularly preferred.
The lid is releasably securable to the housing by means of a fastening means. The fastening means is one that generally allows the passage of air therethrough and may be any suitable known fastener. It is particularly preferred that the fastening means extends along the entire length of the opening between the lid and the housing. In the present invention, it is to be noted that the term ‘fastening means’ is a reference to means that extend between the lid and the housing and physically connect the lid to the housing. Such means are to be contrasted with the closures employed by some prior art devices that merely rely upon the contact between the lid and the housing, for example by biasing the lid to the housing by means of a spring or the like.
Any suitable fastening means that allows easy and repeated access to the interior of the receptacle may be employed. A zip fastener, having two opposing series of interlocking teeth, is a particularly preferred fastening means. Other fastening means include hook and loop fastener systems, such as the commercially available Velcro® fasteners, and zip-type fasteners comprising opposing and interlocking strips, such as are used in Ziploc® products.
The housing may be formed in a wide range of sizes with a wide range of storage volumes therein. For example, a range of housing sizes may be provided to provide a user with an appropriate size to meet the demands of a particular size or breed of dog or to accommodate a particular number of dogs, when in use.
The receptacle further comprises a seal assembly for sealing the opening when the lid is in the closed position. As noted, the fastener means used in the receptacle generally allows the passage of air, at least to some significant degree, therethrough. This in turn allows odours to escape from the receptacle, making the use and transport of the receptacle unpleasant for the user. Accordingly, the receptacle is provided with a seal assembly for reducing or eliminating the passage of air into and out of the receptacle through the fastening means. The seal assembly functions to seal the lid to the housing when the lid is in the closed position, such that air from within the housing cannot escape through the fastening means.
A preferred arrangement of the seal assembly is one in which a sealing member extends across the inner surface of the fastening means, when the lid is in the closed position, that is, the sealing member extends between the housing and the lid on the inner surface of the fastening means, such that the passage of air from within the housing to and through the fastening means, is prevented. The sealing member may be a portion of one of the housing or the lid, for example in the form of a flange or flap that extends from one and seals against the other of the lid and housing. The sealing member is preferably a flexible member, in particular a member that may be compressed when the lid is contacting the housing and the fastening means are closed.
A sealing portion is preferably provided on the other of the housing and the lid, to engage with the sealing member, when the lid is in the closed position. The sealing portion may be formed from any suitable material, in particular a compressible material, for example a rubber material. In one preferred embodiment, the sealing member is a portion of the housing and contacts the lid when the lid is in the closed position. Preferably, the lid is provided with a sealing portion that is brought into contact with the sealing member when the lid is closed. The sealing portion may be a strip of suitable sealing material extending around the portion of the lid adjacent the opening.
To further deal with odours from within the receptacle, the receptacle may be provided with a means for dispensing a scent or perfume, in order to mask odours that may originate from the receptacle. Any suitable means for retaining and dispensing a scent or perfume may be used.
In one embodiment, the receptacle of the present invention is provided with a portion that is impregnated with or comprises a scented or perfumed composition. The perfumed portion of the receptacle may comprise any suitable absorbent material, examples of which are known in the art and are available commercially, for example commercially available plastic air freshener elements and the like. The adsorbent material may be impregnated with a liquid scent or perfume, again known in the art. Alternatively, the receptacle may comprise a solid scented or perfumed element, preferably with a suitable means to retain the element. The scented or perfumed portion may be in any suitable position in the receptacle, with a position within the housing being especially preferred.
In one preferred arrangement, the receptacle comprises a perfumed pad disposed within the housing, the pad being removable from the housing, so as to be replaced when the perfumed component has been exhausted, or to clean the receptacle, for example by washing. Accordingly, in a further aspect, the present invention provides a receptacle for organic waste, the receptacle intended for the storage and transport of the said waste once contained within a plastic bag or the like, the receptacle comprising:
a housing for containing the organic waste having an opening therein;
a lid for closing the opening in the housing; and
a pad comprising a perfumed material removably disposed within the housing.
The pad preferably simply lies at the bottom or innermost portion of the housing, for easy placement and removal. In such a case, the plastic bag containing the waste is placed in the housing on top of the perfumed pad.
The perfumed pad may comprise an adsorbent material that contains and retains a perfume or scent composition, for example a liquid. Alternatively, the pad may be a scented or perfumed plastic.
The receptacle of the present invention preferably also comprises a means for storing and dispensing fresh plastic bags for use in collecting the organic waste. This is an optional feature, which may be omitted for the sake of a simpler design and construction of the receptacle, if required. The means may be a suitable compartment or the like disposed in a convenient and accessible location on the receptacle, either on the exterior or the interior. In one preferred embodiment, the means for storing and dispensing fresh plastic bags is disposed on the lid of the housing, most preferably on the interior portion of the lid.
The receptacle preferably also comprises a means for securing the receptacle to another item, for ease of carrying and transport, most preferably a hook assembly and/or a loop, whereby the receptacle may be attached to the belt of a user or other convenient item for ease of carriage. Suitable hook assemblies are well known in the art. Alternatively, or in addition, the receptacle may be provided with a strap, allowing the user to carry the receptacle by being hung by the strap from a shoulder. Further, the receptacle may be provided with one, two or more straps that may be secured around an arm or leg of a user. The strap may be of a elastic material and/or may comprise a suitable fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener, for securing to the limb. In this way, the receptacle may be more rigidly secured to the user, allowing the user to move more freely, for example when jogging or running.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, having reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Referring to
A lid assembly 10 is pivotably attached to the upper end 8 of the housing 4 by a fabric hinge 12. The lid assembly 10 comprises a generally cylindrical lid 14, having a closed top 16 and an open lower end 18, as viewed in the FIGURE. The lid 14 is of a flexible, washable material, in particular Neoprene®.
The lid assembly 10 is provided with a closure member 20 extending across the open lower end 18 of the lid 14, so as to form a closed compartment 22 within the lid 14. A slit 24 is formed in the closure member 20, allowing folded or crushed plastic bags to be inserted into and extracted from the compartment 22.
The receptacle 2 comprises a fastener means to secure the lid assembly 10 to the upper open end 8 of the housing 4, so as to close the housing 4. The fastener means comprises a zip fastener extending around the open end of the housing 4 and having a first portion 26 mounted to the exterior of the open lower end 18 of the lid and a second portion 28 mounted to the exterior of the open upper end 8 of the housing 4. The first portion 26 of the zip fastener extends beyond the edge of the open lower end 18 of the lid 14. The second portion 28 of the zip fastener overlies the open upper end 8 of the housing, such that the edge of the open end of the housing extends beyond the second portion 28. The zip fastener is generally permeable to air when in the closed state. A sealing strip 30 of a suitable rubber material is provided on the closure member 20 and extends around the open end 18 of the lid adjacent the inner side of the first portion 26 of the zip fastener. When the lid 14 is moved to the closed position and the zip fastener is closed, in conventional manner, the edge of the open end 8 of the housing 4 is caused to contact the sealing strip 30 of the lid assembly 10 and provided a seal that significantly reduces the permeability of the zip fastener and reduces or eliminates the passage of air and odours out from the housing 4.
A tag of fabric 32 is provided on the exterior of the housing 4 on the opposite side to the fabric hinge 12, to be gripped and held by the user, for example when opening and closing the lid. The tag 32 may be omitted, if desired.
A fabric loop 34 is mounted to the exterior of the housing 4 adjacent the fabric hinge 12, which allows the receptacle 2 to be attached to a belt or strap being worn by the user, in convention manner. Again, the loop 34 may be made removeable or omitted entirely, if desired.
A hook assembly 36 of conventional design is mounted to the exterior of the housing 4 by a fabric loop 38 adjacent the fabric loop 34, for attaching the receptacle to other items, as required for storage and/or transport. The hook assembly 36 and the loop 38 may be removeable or omitted, if preferred.
A disc 40 of perfumed material is disposed in the housing 4 a rests on the bottom 6. The disc 40 is of known construction and formulation and contains a perfume which is emitted into the housing and from the housing when open. The disc 40 is readily removable from the housing, for example when the receptacle is to be washed or when the disc needs replacement.
In use, fresh plastic bags are held in the compartment 22 in the lid assembly 10 and withdrawn when collection of organic waste, such a dog faeces is required. Once collected in the bag, the waste is deposited in the bag into the housing 4 and the lid assembly 10 closed onto the housing 4 using the zip fastener. The sealing assembly serves to limit or prevent air and odours from escaping from the housing. The receptacle may be carried by the user using the fabric loop 34 or the hook assembly 36, leaving both hands free. When the receptacle is opened, the perfumed disc 40 emits scents that mask any odours that may be emitted.
The receptacle, less the perfumed disc 40, may be washed in known manner, for repeated use.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0804921.5 | Mar 2008 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB09/00706 | 3/16/2009 | WO | 00 | 9/17/2010 |
