Patent Application
20250017436
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The disclosure relates to waste removal devices and more particularly pertains to a new waste removal device for cleaning up after pets. The present invention discloses a waste removal device used to suction up pet waste from a surface and to disinfect the surface.
The prior art relates to waste removal devices and includes a number of waste removal devices that comprise vacuum modules. What is lacking in the prior art is a waste removal device comprising both a vacuum module and a disinfectant module, which allow a user to both suction up pet waste from a surface and to disinfect the surface.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a vacuum module and a disinfectant module, which are attached to a housing and which are positioned in an interior space defined by the housing. A suction hose is attached by its first end to the vacuum module and extends from the housing. A fluid hose is attached by its first terminus to the disinfectant module and extends from the housing. A first switch and a second switch are attached to the suction hose and to the fluid hose, respectively, and are operationally engaged to the vacuum module and to the disinfectant module, respectively. The disinfectant module is configured to selectively dispense a disinfectant solution, a cleaning solution, or the like. The suction hose is configured to be grasped in a hand of a user and the first switch selectively switched by a digit of the hand to actuate the vacuum module. The user is positioned to direct a second end of the suction hose proximate to waste on a surface to suction up the waste. The fluid hose is configured to be grasped in the hand of the user and the second switch selectively switched to actuate the disinfectant module. The user is positioned to direct a disinfectant solution from a second terminus of the fluid hose onto the surface to disinfect the surface.
Another embodiment of the disclosure includes a method for removing waste from a surface and disinfecting the surface. The method entails provision of a waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device, according to the disclosure above. Steps of the method entail grasping the suction hose, directing a second end of the suction hose proximate to waste on a surface, switching the first switch to actuate the vacuum module to suction up the waste, directing a second terminus of the fluid hose toward the surface, and switching the second switch to actuate the disinfectant module to dispense a disinfectant solution onto the surface to disinfect the surface.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
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:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A suction hose 24 is attached by its first end 26 to the vacuum module 12 and extends from the housing 16. The suction hose 24 comprises a first segment 28, which is resiliently bendable, and a second segment 30, which is substantially rigid. A connector 32 is attached to and extends between the first segment 28 and the second segment 30. A handle 34 is attached to the second segment 30 and is configured to grasped in a hand of the user to position the second segment 30.
The vacuum module 12 comprises a vacuum pump 36 and a bag 38. The suction hose 24 is attached to an input port 40 of the vacuum pump 36 so that the suction hose 24 is in fluidic communication with the bag 38. The bag 38 is selectively positionable in the housing 16 and is selectively attachable to an output port 42 of the vacuum pump 36 so that the bag 38 is in fluidic communication with the vacuum pump 36. Such bags 38 are well known to those skilled in the art of vacuum cleaners. An aroma compound 44 may be impregnated in the bag 38 to mask smells. The present invention also anticipates use of a canister in place of the bag 38 to allow for suctioning up of both solids and liquids.
A fluid hose 46 is attached by its first terminus 48 to the disinfectant module 14 and extends from the housing 16. The disinfectant module 14 is configured to selectively dispense a disinfectant solution 50, a cleaning solution, or the like. The present invention also anticipates a wand 100 being attached to the second terminus 70 of the fluid hose 46 to facilitate directing of the disinfectant solution 50 onto a surface 74. Also anticipated is a pair of clips 108, which are attached to the housing 16 and which are selectively attachable to the wand 100 to stow the wand 100 when it is not in use.
The disinfectant module 14 comprises a fluid pump 52 and a reservoir 54. The reservoir 54 is selectively positionable in the housing 16 and is selectively attachable to an inlet port 56 of the fluid pump 52 so that the reservoir 54 is in fluidic communication with the fluid pump 52. The first terminus 48 of the fluid hose 46 is attached to an outlet port 58 of the fluid pump 52 so that the fluid hose 46 is in fluidic communication with the reservoir 54. The reservoir 54 is configured to contain the disinfectant solution 50, a cleaning solution, or the like. A straw 60 extends from the inlet port 56 to proximate to a bottom 62 of the reservoir 54, allowing the fluid pump 52 to draw the disinfectant solution 50 from the reservoir 54.
A first switch 64 and a second switch 66 are attached to the suction hose 24 and to the fluid hose 46, respectively, and are operationally engaged to the vacuum module 12 and to the disinfectant module 14, respectively. As shown in
The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device 10 is anticipated to be of particular use in cleaning up waste 72 from pets, such as in cleaning in and around a doghouse 76, as is shown in
A battery 78, which is rechargeable, is selectively positionable in the interior space 18. The present invention also anticipates the waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device 10 comprising two batteries 78, with one serving as a backup to the other.
A power switch 80 is attached to the housing 16. A microprocessor 82 is attached to the housing 16, is positioned in the interior space 18, and is operationally engaged to the battery 78, the power switch 80, the vacuum pump 36, the fluid pump 52, the first switch 64, and the second switch 66. The microprocessor 82 is enabled to actuate the vacuum pump 36 and the fluid pump 52 upon switching of the first switch 64 and the second switch 66, respectively. The power switch 80 is used, as one would expect, to selectively engage the microprocessor 82 to the battery 78, thereby powering up the waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device 10.
A charging port 84 is attached to the housing 16 and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 82. The charging port 84 is configured for insertion of a plug 86 of a charging cord 88 that extends from a source of electrical current to charge the battery 78.
A plurality of walls 90 is attached to the housing 16 and defines a plurality of compartments 92 within the interior space 18. The fluid pump 52 is positioned in a respective compartment 92 that is proximate to an upper end 94 of the housing 16. The vacuum pump 36 and the battery 78 are positioned in a respective compartment 92 that is proximate to a lower end 96 of the housing 16. The bag 38 and the reservoir 54 are positioned singly in respective compartments 92 that are positioned adjacent to opposed sides 98 of the housing 16.
A pair of cutouts 100 is positioned in a front 102 of the housing 16, with one of the cutouts 100 opening to a respective compartment 92 in which the bag 38 and the reservoir 54 are selectively positionable. The other of the cutouts 100 opens to a respective compartment 92 in which the battery 78 is selectively positionable. The cutouts 100 allow for changing of the bag 38, replenishment of the disinfectant solution 50, and changing of the battery 78. Each panel 104 of a pair of panels 104 is hingedly attached to the housing 16 proximate to a respective cutout 100 and is selectively attachable to the housing 16 to close the respective cutout 100. Each grip 106 of a pair of grips 106 is attached to a respective panel 104 and is configured to be grasped in digits of the hand of the user to hinge the respective panel 104 between an open configuration and a closed configuration.
The waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device 10 enables a method for removing waste from a surface and disinfecting the surface 118. The method 112 comprises providing a waste suctioning and surface disinfecting device 10 according to the specification above. A first step 114 of the method 112 is grasping the suction hose 24 in a hand. A second step 116 of the method 112 is directing a second end 68 of the suction hose 24 proximate to waste 72 on a surface 74. A third step 118 of the method 112 is switching the first switch 64 to actuate the vacuum module 12 to suction up the waste 72. A fourth step 120 of the method 112 is directing a second terminus 70 of the fluid hose 46 toward the surface 74. A fifth step 122 of the method 112 is switching the second switch 66 to actuate the disinfectant module 14 to dispense a disinfectant solution 50 onto the surface 74 to disinfect the surface 74.
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.
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.
