US 4,272,116 AGranted

Apparatus and method of disposing of pet waste and the like

OwnerRalph W. Tufte, Jr.inventor

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Abstract

An apparatus for disposing of pet waste and the like includes a collapsible generally rectangular container having an open forward end and an integral handle by which an operator may support and manipulate the container without contacting either the container or waste material. A separate spatula may be provided for moving waste material into the container. Both the container and spatula may be provided with a coacting connection operative for securing the spatula in substantially closed relation over the forward end of the container. The method of the present invention includes placing a container adjacent the waste material, manipulating a spatula to move the waste material into the container, covering the open forward end of the container with the spatula and securing the same thereon and disposing of the container, waste material and spatula as a unit.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A disposable collector for pet waste and the like comprising,

a collapsible generally rectangular container having forward and rearward ends, a bottom wall, top wall and opposite sidewalls foldingly interconnected whereby said container is foldable from a substantially planar collapsed form to a generally tubular open form, and a back wall foldingly connected to one of said walls and adapted to close the rearward end of said container in said open form thereof,
said container further comprising a handle portion formed integrally with one of said walls whereby said container may be supported and manipulated by said handle portion,
a flat spatula adapted for moving waste into said container,
said spatula and container including coacting connector means operative for securing said spatula in substantially closed relation over the forward end of said container, and
said spatula having a pair of laterally directed score lines spaced longitudinally apart by a distance substantially equal to the height of said container at the forward end thereof whereby said spatula may be folded along said score lines to substantially conform to the forward end of said container.

2 more elements

A disposable collector for pet waste and the like comprising,

a collapsible generally rectangular container having forward and rearward ends, a bottom wall, top wall and opposite sidewalls foldingly interconnected whereby said container is foldable from a substantially planar collapsed form to a generally tubular open form, and a back wall foldingly connected to one of said walls and adapted to close the rearward end of said container in said open form thereof,
said container further comprising a handle portion formed integrally with one of said walls whereby said container may be supported and manipulated by said handle portion,
a spatula adapted for moving waste into said container,
said spatula and container including coacting connector means operative for securing said spatula in substantially closed relation over the forward end of said container, and
said coacting connector means comprising slots in the forward ends of said sidewalls adjacent said bottom wall and coacting slots in said spatula,
said spatula comprising a tongue portion having a width substantially the same as said bottom wall,
said tongue having side edges which partially define said spatula slots whereby said spatula slots are adapted for engagement with the slots in said sidewalls when said tongue is inserted into said container along said bottom wall.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.