# US 11,441,280 B2 · Animal waste collecting assembly and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,280 B2 - Document ID: US11441280B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/662,727 - Filed: 2019-10-24 - Published: 2021-04-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-24 - Applicants: John Smolley - Inventors: John Smolley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441280B2 ## CPC - E01H 1/1206: {for picking up excrements (manure or urine pouches for animal husbandry A01K23/00)} - E01H 2001/1226: {characterised by way of removing material} - E01H 2001/1293: {Walking cane or the like, i.e. implements allowing handling while in an upright position} - E01H: STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING {OR PREVENTING} FOG IN GENERAL {CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS}(cleaning in general B08B) ## Abstract An animal waste collecting assembly includes a pole defining a handle. The pole is elongated and has a first end and a second end. A frame releasably engages and supports a plastic bag and includes a closed loop attached to and extending away from the second end of the pole. The closed loop has an end member positioned opposite of the pole. The end member is linear for a distance greater than 4.0 inches and is orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pole. A plurality of tines is attached to and extends away from the end member. The tines are co-planar with respect to each other and lie in a plane angled back toward the pole. A clip is mounted on the pole adjacent to the second end. The clip releasably secures an edge of the plastic bag to the pole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An animal waste collection assembly configured to collect animal waste in a plastic bag, the assembly comprising: a pole defining a handle, the pole being elongated and having a first end and a second end; a frame configured to releasably engage and support a plastic bag, the frame including a closed loop being attached to and extending away from the second end of the pole, the closed loop having an end member positioned opposite of the pole, the end member being linear for a distance greater than 4.0 inches and being orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pole; a plurality of tines being attached to and extending away from the end member, the tines being co-planar with respect to each other, the tines lying a plane being angled back toward the pole; a clip being mounted on the pole adjacent to the second end, the clip being configured to releasably secure an edge of the plastic bag to the pole; and a receiver including a bottom surface having a plurality of wells extending therein, the wells being aligned with each other and being positioned such that each of the tines is simultaneously extendable into one of the wells, wherein the receiver is configured to be urged against the plastic bag positioned between the tines and the receiver such that the tines impale the plastic bag. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pole has a break therein to form a first portion and a second portion of the pole, the first and second sections being removably attached to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plane of the tines forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis between 62° and 68°. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface is abuttable against the end member when the tines are fully received by the receiver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 1, further including a securing member being mounted on the receiver, the securing member releasably engaging the pole to secure the receiver to the pole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 1, further including a pair of spikes being attached to the frame, the spikes being positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis with respect to each other, the spikes extending toward the pole, the spikes being configured to pierce and engage the plastic bag. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 6, wherein the spikes have a length between 0.5 inches and 2.0 inches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 1, further including a pair of spikes being attached to the frame, the spikes being positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis with respect to each other, the spikes extending toward the pole, the spikes being configured to pierce and engage the plastic bag. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 8, wherein the spikes have a length between 0.5 inches and 2.0 inches. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 8, wherein the frame includes: a pair of side arms being attached to and extending away from the pole, each of the side arms having one of the spikes attached thereto, the side arms each having a distal end and a proximal end relative to the pole, the distal ends of each of the side arms being attached to the end member, the side arms being positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis relative to each other, each of the side arms having: a bend positioned between the distal end and the proximal end to define a first section including the proximal end and a second section including the distal end, the first section extending outwardly away from the pole such an angle formed between the first section and the longitudinal axis being equal to or less than 90° and greater than 30°; and the second section forming an inner angle with the first section being equal to or greater than 90° and less than 150°. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The animal waste collection assembly according to claim 10, wherein each of the spikes being positioned adjacent to a corresponding bend in the side arms, each said spike forming an acute angle with a respective one of the first sections. ### Claim 12 An animal waste collection assembly configured to collect animal waste in a plastic bag, the assembly comprising: a pole defining a handle, the pole being elongated and having a first end and a second end; a frame configured to releasably engage and support a plastic bag, the frame including a closed loop being attached to and extending away from the second end of the pole, the closed loop having an end member positioned opposite of the pole, the end member being linear for a distance greater than 4.0 inches and being orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pole; a plurality of tines being attached to and extending away from the end member, the tines being co-planar with respect to each other, the tines lying a plane being angled back toward the pole, the plane of the tines forming an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis between 62° and 68°; a receiver including a bottom surface having a plurality of wells extending therein, the wells being aligned with each other and being positioned such that each of the tines is simultaneously extendable into one of the wells, wherein the receiver is configured to be urged against the plastic bag positioned between the tines and the receiver such that the tines impale the plastic bag, the bottom surface being abuttable against the end member when the tines are fully received by the receiver, a securing member being mounted on the receiver, the securing member releasably engaging the pole to secure the receiver to the pole; a clip being mounted on the pole adjacent to the second end, the clip being configured to releasably secure an edge of the plastic bag to the pole; a pair of spikes being attached to the frame, the spikes being positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis with respect to each other, the spikes extending toward the pole, the spikes being configured to pierce and engage the plastic bag, the spikes having a length between 0.5 inches and 2.0 inches; the frame including a pair of side arms being attached to and extending away from the pole, each of the side arms having one of the spikes attached thereto, the side arms each having a distal end and a proximal end relative to the pole, the distal ends of each of the side arms being attached to the end member, the side arms being positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis relative to each other, each of the side arms having: a bend positioned between the distal end and the proximal end to define a first section including the proximal end and a second section including the distal end, the first section extending outwardly away from the pole such an angle formed between the first section and the longitudinal axis being equal to or less than 90° and greater than 30°; the second section forming an inner angle with the first section being equal to or greater than 90° and less than 150°; and each of the spikes being positioned adjacent to a corresponding bend in the side arms, the spike forming an acute angle with a respective one of the first sections. ### Claim 13 A method of collecting animal waste comprising the steps of: positioning a plastic bag adjacent to a frame attached to a pole, the pole having a first end and a second end, the frame being positioned adjacent to the second end, the frame including a closed loop being attached to and extending away from the second end of the pole, the closed loop having an end member positioned opposite of the pole, the end member being linear for a distance greater than 4.0 inches and being orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pole, a plurality of tines being attached to and extending away from the end member, the tines being co-planar with respect to each other, the tines lying a plane being angled back toward the pole; urging the tines through the plastic bag adjacent to a perimeter edge of the plastic bag; pushing the bag through the closed loop; securing an opposite edge of the bag relative to the tines to the pole with a clip mounted on the pole adjacent to the second end, the clip being configured to releasably secure an edge of the plastic bag to the pole; extending a pair of spikes through the bag, the spikes being attached to the frame, the spikes being positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis with respect to each other, the spikes extending toward the pole; moving the tines across a ground surface to engage and capture animal waste positioned on the ground surface such that the animal waste moves into the plastic bag; and wherein the step of urging the tines through the plastic bag further includes having the plastic bag positioned between the tines and a receiver, the receiver including a bottom surface having a plurality of wells extending therein, the wells being aligned with each other and being positioned such that each of the tines is simultaneously extendable into one of the wells, the receiver being urged against the plastic bag such that the tines impale the plastic bag.