Jaw-type refuse collecting device

A refuse collecting device adapted during use thereof to extend substantially vertically and comprising an upstanding tubular handle;

• a pair of opposed jaws located at the lower end of the handle and consisting of a fixed jaw connected rigidly to the lower end of the handle and a movable jaw pivoted to the fixed jaw for swinging movement towards and away from said fixed jaw between closed and open positions, and provided on its upper portion with a fixed crank arm;
• a hollow pistol grip assembly located at the upper end of the handle and embodying a substantially L-shaped casing consisting of a generally horizontal grip proper and a generally vertical sheath connected to and depending from one end of the grip proper and telescopically received over the upper end of the handle, an elongated trigger arm having one end thereof disposed within the casing, its intermediate portion extending through a slot in the underneath side of the grip proper and also in the sheath in the casing, and its other end exposed and disposed adjacent to said underneath side of the grip proper, and a pivot element disposed within said casing and applied to said one end of the trigger arm so that said trigger arm is pivoted to move up and down between retracted and unretracted positions;
• a pull rod extending loosely and longitudinally through the handle, having its upper end pivotally connected to the trigger arm between the latter's one end and intermediate portion and its lower end pivotally connected to the distal end of the crank arm on the upper portion of the movable jaw, and adapted when the trigger arm is swung upwards to its retracted position to move the movable jaw into its closed position and when the trigger arm is swung downwards to its unretracted position to swing the movable jaw to its open position;
• and spring means disposed within the casing and applied to the trigger arm in such manner that it yieldingly biases the latter to its unretracted position.